Florence

I stayed a few days in Florence, which was a lovely city, and I got a great score on my hostel. Had a massive dorm all to my self with a balcony, indoor swimming pool and sauna, 5th floor roof bar with great views over the whole city, and a bar with movies downstairs, all for 10 Euro a night. Good deal!

The Ponte Vecchio, last of the original bridges. The others were all destroyed in some war, but one kind chap decided to spare one.

mmmmm, Gelato. My first ice cream experiecne was by far the best, with a divine cinnamon gelato, and an amaretto mousse, which has the most amazing nougat-cream like texture. I spent the rest of the trip trying to find gelato as good, and although I came close once, always ended up a slight bit disappointed!

The Duomo - this was definately the highlight of Florence. This was the view from the roof of my hostel.

The floor inside was amazing. So many different marble pattterns and textures!

It was great fun going up the complex windy stair maze to the top!

More stairs

The inside of the dome was fantastic, with the lower levels depicting hell, and the upper sectionn of heaven. The stairs lead to the section inside the dome at the level of the painting, and one could walk around the dome inside and enjoy the magnificence!

Close ups of some of the inside of the dome. See whats going on in the scene bottom left of the blue angel - Ouch!

On top of the dome outside.

The were lots of tremedous facades around Florence.

Here are some more.

Alas, once is not allowed to take photos of David, but it was a fine work of art, and I was lucky enough to be pretty much the only person there. The fake David in one of the Piazzas was being renovated, so no photos there either.

Did you know, that David is the same David of David and Goliath fame. He is holding the sling in his hand, which goes around his back to his other hand at his waist. Well I never!