In search of the TRUE Statue of David…

We accidently slept in till 10am today – but we probably needed the rest. We got ready (unlike the man above) and headed to the train station, past all the vendors selling their goods. From what we can tell they are there 7 days a week. Some take their “cart” to storage at night and some leave them there. I think those in the piazza’s (squares) have to take them home at night and those in the alley ways don’t. Today a motorcycle tried to come down the alley with all the vendors and patrons and was almost knocking into people. We stopped along the way at a traditional bakery and I got something like a fruit cake but with a very light bread - it was actually delicious.

Venice was known for Murano glass and Florence is known for leather. I found some leather bracelets for 1 euro and liked them so much I purchased an armful. LOL  Deeanna's was offered to her at 15 euro and she talked him down to 3 euro.

We sort of drifted off to the right and got lost for a moment but using our trusty map we got back on track and made it to the train station (though Deeanna almost ended up in jail for taking a picture of the police lady). After arriving at the station Deeanna realized that she forgot her train ticket back in the room so we changed plans midstream and decided to walk the water front to the Ponte Vecchio bridge (the famous bridge with jewelry stores on it)

Above is on the bridge and below is below is a picture from the bridge

We also found a nice Church along the way.  It's weird to think of how many people have walked on it's marble floors before us.

Then on up those million stairs to the top of the world and out of the city to find the “fake” statue of David at Piazzele Michaelangelo.

We had to walk up MANY stairs to get to the top of the hill but it was SO worth it. We could see the “true” Florence/Tuscany region with the rolling hills, the wall built to protect the statue of David from the Nazi’s, and the city centre itself.  And what a view.

We walked up the hill from there and found another magnificent church, with a graveyard and you could hear the organ playing in the graveyard. I’m not sure if you are supposed to take pictures of crypts but I did. So much history there. In one area there were a lot of little children as if a plague had hit their house/family and they all died young. So sad. And a man who died in the war at 24 and one year later his wife died (of a broken heart?).

We then decided to try and ride a bus to Giardino di Boboli gardens and got on with a ton of young kids. Watching our purses and such we missed our stop and were lost for a bit trying to decide is we should get off and board a bus going back the other way or not. We then recognized the train station (where we started our day) and got off and headed home to change. The weather was 69 today and is supposed to be in the low 70’s tomorrow – just perfect for walking (and there’s always a breeze in town). After changing we decided to go find the “real” statue of David. As it happens it’s in this ordinary building with graffiti on the outside with a dome build especially for the statue to stand under and let natural light in. No pictures are allowed – but my camera shutter slipped twice…before being told “no pictures”. Deeanna is not as good at taking pictures in no picture zones and usually gets told “no” more than once. I don’t think this is the “real” statue – there is some discussion that the “real” one is being hidden for safety reasons. I believe there are like 3-4 fake ones around town and this one “real” one. So we have seen 2 of the 4-5 statues so far.  This does nothing to show what he really looks like in person - SO much larger in real life.  Below is a door right outside the museum.  So sad that even in Europe there is grafetti everywhere.

We hear sirens ALL the time – but they are not after cars since there are hardly any around town and all are too small to out run the police. Maybe they are in search of individuals taking photos “by accident”.

Then off for a drink at a little bar. Deeanna had popcorn as her “snack” and I had peanuts with my drink. After that dinner, then to our room to blog. We are setting the alarm for early, Deeanna has her ticket in her purse and we are off to the leaning tower of Pisa tomorrow and the city of Lucca. Night all - what a fun day.  Kyla

As the sun sets on Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Firoe the day closes...