Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 08:56:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Chianti vino en Firenze

I'm somewhat drunk right now. so let me apologize in advance for any spelling
mistakes in this email.

Today morning I got up late (9 am), had breakfast at the hotel and left around
10am. Went to the Duomo but it was closed -- due to open at 1ç30pm. So I went
to the Uffizi museum and checked their closing time -- 6ç30pm today. So I
crossed the Arno river on Ponte Veccio (13th century bridge that the retreating
Nazi armies during WW2 did not have the heart to blow up because it was so
pretty). I went to the Pitti Palace - home of the Medici's during the
Renaissance. It was VERY nice - i think the best of Florence. a lot of
paintings, a lot of ceiling paintings, a lot of sculptured gardens (Biboli
gardens)... all good! After outdoor was a lunch at a caffe (no vino, only
fanta).

And next was the 1-hour line to get into the Uffizi museum. Not a good start to
begin with.

The Uffizi is home to the most number of paintings and sculptures from the
Renaissance, all donated to the city by the last member of the Medici in the
1700s, with the condition that those works of art must never leave Florence and
must never be sold.

Donatello, Bellini, Caravagio, Boticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da
Vinci, and Fillipo Lippi -- all names i had heard before, now i saw their
paintings. one painting of davinci when he was still learning. his maestro,
Verocchio was painting one piece and let "Leo" paint an angel inside it.

I must have seen about 50 different variations of "Adoration of Magi"!

Then a lot of works by people I had never heard of before, but enjoyed their
art.... Corregio, Pontormo, Fiorentino, Bronzino, Piera della Francesca....
list goes on and on... there are more than a thousand pieces of art in there.

What was surprising though was that they also had old Roman sculptures, and
also pieces from the German Renaissance from the 1600's-1700's. But mostly
Italian (and specifically Florentine) art from 1300's-1500's. All very
beatiful, all very nice, all very old.

But.... in my opinion, not as nice as in the Pitti Palace.

The Uffizi took about 2 or 3 hours to see ... There's a great cafe/bar at the
end of the museum, with an outdoor patio with a view of the bell tower. Took a
few pictures there, but did not linger too long.

Next stop was the Duomo. Got in line to go to the top, paid 6 euros entrance
fee, and started climbing 463 steps. "1... 2... 3...." i lost count somewhere
around 280...

The stairway is very cramped (not recommended if you're claustraphobic), and in
some places the steps are also quite high... about half'way up i was wondering
why i ever came here!

Then i went all the way up.

And i knew why i went there. It's a gorgeous view from the top! it's the
highest a point in Florence.... and i could even make out the backside of my
hotel from there, just a few buildings away from the train station!

Stayed up there for a while, admiring the view and feeling the breeze in my
face. WONDERFUL breeze after that long tiring climb up. Then started down again
just before sunset. coming down was also tricky... in some places the steps
were so steep it was easier to turn around and go down backwards, like on a
ladder.

After that I treated myself to an ice cream. Then bought a small bottle of
chianti. Sat on the footsteps of the Duomo and had both.

Now i'm here in this Western Union office with cheap internet access.

And maybe its just the vino, but i'm getting a crazy idea in my crazy head
again..... Tomorrow I'm supposed to fly to Madrid, but it's raining over there
and will continue to rain for the next 3 days. So i'm thinking to just skip
it.... maybe go back down to Rome.. or possibly Siena and Chianti (the
town)..... or maybe Venice again.... and go straight to London from Italy for
my flight back to san jose.

but that'll mean abandoning my flight ticket and pre-paid, non-refundable hotel
stay in madrid, plus buying any other train tickets or motel stays and any
other costs within italy. but it's gorgeous over here... i wanna stay longer.

I have to be at work on Thursday. Trip is almost over. Too short.... always too
short.

I dunno what i'll do about skipping Spain entirely.

Paris is partly cloudy for next 3 days but it's sub-freezing over there. London
is warmer, but i dont really want to spend 3 days in london! Maybe Nice and
french riviera............. but too expensive.

Maybe i'll go to spain anyway.

i need dinner. i'm hungry. bon nuit, et buona notte.

Adios,
me.

Piazza della Signoria: The statue of David here is a reproduction; the original inside Galleria Accedemia is not allowed to be photographed.