Monday, September 6, 2010

7-16-09

We leave Cortona for a day trip into Florence. I choose to go mainly because I had to get out of Cortona for a day. Don't get me wrong, Cortona is beautiful and exquisite and magical, but it is confining. I also want to partake in some people watching. Florence is awesome for people watching.

We take the train into town. It's about an hour and half trip sitting in coach with no air conditioning or fans. Come to find out my mom and Charlie had slipped into first class without realizing it. They had air conditioning and ice water, while we were stuck with parched mouths and back sweat.

We walked the promenade to the Ponte Veccio (a bridge in Florence famous for its shops). I drink an espresso at a cafe and Cameron eats gelato. Those who hadn't seen the David go to The Academia (which leaves Charlie, Victoria, my dad and me).

My dad and I visit the Medici Family tomb/museum. The Medici Family is the richest family in Italian history. They were merchants in the 1500's with ties to the Pope in Rome. Basically, they handled every banking transaction across the Mediterranean, so yeah, they're a pretty big deal. The shrines they built are amazing. All the art work was done by stone inlay. The coat of arms, which is a lion (go figure), is blue and the mane alone has 30 individual pieces of stone, which all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Extremely intricate.

We meet back up with everyone to go to the Duomo. I decide not to walk to the top and get a gelato instead. I wait on the sidewalk eating my gelato and watch the people. A Japanese tour stops in front of me admiring the Duomo. The tour guide speaks really fast and everyone is skinny and has black hair. They leave and another tour stops. They are all fat and flabby. Everyone is out of breath and looking for a place to sit down. The tour guide is speaking English. Before they leave I ask where they're from. A man, red-faced and sweating manages to wheeze out "Chicago." Boy do I love America.

Cam and I grab some fries from the McDonald's in the station before getting on the train to Cortona. We almost miss the final boarding call because the line was so long. It's even hotter in the train going back. About 100 degrees and Zero air flow. It's like sitting in a plastic bag between Ron Jeremy's ass cheeks. It doesn't help that Ashley and Erica are complaining about it all the way back to Cortona, but we arrive safe and sweaty, and excited about tomorrow's events!