from the train station, we followed the ppl who looked like tourists towards pisa. had to stop to ask for direction as there were no signs indicating near the train station. the shops along the streets were still closed but it was all bustling on our way back. some were not opened as it was a sunday. you can shop wherever you are in italy.
the beautiful piazza del duomo. as we were early, we did not have to fight for space to take photos. no one blocking the tower for us. phew! i paid to go up the tower, 15Euro. more expensive than going into colosseo. aunt decided not to go as there was warning saying that it was not for those with impaired health conditions. there were about 300 narrow and steep steps to go up and yes, you would be heaving your way up.
the way up was not all straight too. you had to lean towards the right as soon as you started the first few steps through the small wooden door. they only limit 48 ppl at one time and they have timetables to go up. first come first served. i bought my ticket at 10.10 and went up at 10.30. the group behind me had to go up at 1100. lucky me.
this is what you get from the top of the tower. breathtaking.
a social gathering for all pitbulls in pisa? haha....more than 20 of them with their owners. you see italians with their obedient dogs everywhere. some were not even tied and they would follow their masters into the malls, bookshops, coffee shops, etc. jealousnya.
the cathedral at the piazza. they were having a mass at that time but they still let us enter and be at the back. no photography allowed but i managed to steal one (far left).then it was back to florence by train.
can't remember the name of this piazza but this is where all the stores selling leather items are.lots of piazzas everywhere you go in the city.
cathedral santa maria del fiore in the day. lots of ppl milling about. basically you have cathedrals everywhere in italy. one has to understand the stories in the bible to be able to appreciate the carvings and stories on the walls. me? won't do.
artists at work. it should be madonna they were painting there since it was celebration day the next day.
ponte vecchio, the oldest bridge in florence. it was spared in the world war 2 and survived till today. ppl live and have shops on the bridge. all the shops here sell silver and gold jewellery.
ponte vecchio and jewellery shops.
the famous galleria degli uffizi. it is where the statue of david by michaelangelo is. it took him 3 years to carve the statue out from a slab of finest marble. wanna see the statue at the museum? pay lah. so i did not go.
there are many other statues outside the gallery and there is actually a copy of the statue outside but it was covered for restoration.
and what is a trip to italy without having any gelato? one scoop goes for 3Euro. sometimes you can find cheaper ones at 2Euro but not as nice.. this cone here cost me 6Euro. how not to go broke in italy? can only eat gelato in florence since the weather is milder. the other places are too cold for this.
at night we met aunt's friend who is a tour guide. he brought us out for dinner at one of the cafes at one of the piazzas here. yummy...this is as italian as i could get in my trip here with regard to meals. steak, pizza, smoked ham and melon and tiramisu. the meal came up to 74Euro. that piece of steak alone was 31 Euro. but was really good. 70% done.italy made me put on weight and i came back with a bulging tummy ah. my aunt said i was so scared of hunger. yes, i have to admit that i was. when i travel, there are 2 things i fear, hunger and sickness. so whether i am hungry or not, i make sure i eat the 3 meals so i dun get hungry back at the hotel or in the middle of the night. at home, i can eat light and not worry. so first day back in germany, i started jogging again. no worries.
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