21 Adventerous Days in Europe on a
Rick Steves Tour
Europe Bound!
One of the best things about traveling to many cities is getting the “feel” for many different places. Florence is so culturally, artistically, and historically rich you can just feel it as you walk around.
Taking in all the art, history, and culture that exists in one city. It’s impossible but worth trying. Reid talked about something called proximity experiences. A proximity experience is the feeling you get when you are in a place that is historically significant (at least that’s what I interpreted it to mean). I guess I felt that way just being in Florence. I especially felt that way being in the Uffizi gallery. Sometimes it’s just hard to believe I am seeing and doing what I am.
Italy
Florence
May 15, 2013
Tour Day 11
Wow Moment
Food
Our food was pretty simple today. We had our reliable durum doners again for lunch. For dinner we had pizza. And, of course, gelato. I don’t even need to mention that, do I?
Travel Tip
When traveling there will always be more to do than can be done. It’s important to make time to create the experiences you really want. It can be easy to get distracted with what you think you “should” do. That might be a culinary experience, a historical experience, or just sitting at a café and soaking it all in. Either way, whatever you want to experience you will need to prioritize to make it happen.
Well we got to sleep in until 8 this morning! Mike and I were pretty stoked about that. But once we got up we hit the ground running.
We started with the San Marco Museum which has the work of Fra Angelico. We chose this museum because while I was in college I learned about a piece, called Annunciation, that I was really interested in seeing. The museum was unique. All of the art were in small rooms of the Monestary. They were simple white rooms with the painting on one of the walls. It was really amazing to see the piece I learned about in college in person. The angel is depicted in such a unique way with multi-colored wings.
After the museum we headed to the Giotto’s Campanile (the bell tower). We climbed the 414 steps to reach the top. The view makes it all worth it. It was beautiful to see all the red roofed houses and buildings with the duomo right in our view. As we headed down the bells rang to wish us on our way… or to indicate the top of the hour.
We stopped for a gelato break to give our feet and brain a rest. Then we headed off to Galileo’s Museum. Galileo’s museum is a nice contrast in Florence because it largely focuses on science and innovation. The museum has several tools and instruments that Galileo owned and used. It even had a couple of his fingers in a jar.
Next we headed off to the Medici Chapels. The Medici Family is a huge reason why Florence became the art powerhouse that it is. The main chapel area was covered in dark marble which was unique compared to most marble I had seen thus far. There are also four statues by Michelangelo at the Medici. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a decent picture because they weren’t allowed, but I tried.
She pointed things out in the art that I would have never noticed on my own. It was another reminder of how important guides are in museums. Pictures weren't allowed and this is one of the first times I obeyed the rule so no photos of the Birth of Venus or other famous paintings.
We stopped for a late lunch and had some durum doners. Then we headed off to the Uffizi Gallery with the group. We had a guide who made the museum come alive.
For the rest of the evening Mike and I wandered Florence, from random streets to the Ponte Vecchio. What a day.
