Day 21

Italy 2010

Day 21

Florence was a major power during the Renaissance, and the cathedrals and museums are well worth visiting. Unfortunately, many prohibit picture taking, but one was snuck out of the Academy of the David. This sculpture is incredible, especially to Roberto who is reading the “Agony and the Ecstasy” which is about the Michelangelo, because it was chiseled by hand from a slab of marble taller than two men.

It may be coincidence, but after a walk through a museum, our appetites were ready for more food. We found a stand selling tripe and bought a little. It doesn’t sound good; it’s probably worse when you realize it is the meat of the cow’s stomach.However, if you didn’t know either of those two facts, most would find it very tasty.

We can’t keep showing pictures of pizza or pasta, and rather than show a frontal on the tripe, we’ll call it enough information that you know there are special ‘hot dog’ stands that sell it ready to eat.

Our lunch was at a place well-known in Florence for having the best pizza, and it was pretty darn good. But like we said, we won’t bore you with another picture of super great Italian pizza.

We then went to the leather school, as it looked interesting. Dan and Roberto were both shopping for good leather belts. You not only can buy a belt, but if it needs to be resized, the leather makers do it on site and brand your belt with your initials.

Florence in known for leather goods, and the school is renowned within the leather world and also was founded to teach orphans the trade of leather making. After buying and customizing their belts, Roberto and Dan joined the ranks of Robert Downey Jr., Noah Wylie, Barbara Bush, James Stewart, Robert Kennedy, Ozzy Osborne, and Princess Diana in having had their picture taken here.

Jan and Dan went onto one more Cathedral, while Shari and Robert retired for the day and headed to the gelateria.

For dinner, we walked ten feet from our apartment door to a super great, very small, very local osteria where we ate a fantastic dinner two nights ago. After all the eating we did today, we were ready for a meal of salads.