Florence

Our day started out early and cold.  We had a 7am train from Rome to Florence.  We left the hotel at 545.  We found that heat in this hotel goes off at 11 and comes on at 6.  At about 4 there was a Chinese bed firedrill as children were awake and cold.  Dad gladly took the solo bed...

Our train was fast and punctual, something you don't often hear in the same sentence in Italy.  The snow was still on the ground in Rome, but upon arrival in Florence, it was just cold.  Like about -2C cold.  Plans were again adjusted.  Went to climb the Bell tower and cupola at the Duomo.  Needed to warm up and hit those before the cold sapped our energy.  It was still cold, but we made it.  Great views! Most interesting conversation was around the art work on the Brunileschi built dome.  Another hell, purgatory, and heaven theme. Explaining why the demon was sticking the flaming hot poker into the wrong end of the unfortunate soul.  Martha's explanation of the people viewing this scene in the 1500's, when it was done, couldn't have imagined an experience more undesirable still rang true in 2012.

Long warm lunch at a very nice place near the Medci chapel.  Rod had boar, JJ a hearty mushroom soup, and Martha and Joe had the special likely because it came with a glass of Chianti.  It was a pork and white bean dish with a delightful gnocchi with raddichio and gorgonzola.  Grace was not satisfied with her tomato soup which turned out to be more like a tomato stew.  It was good but didn't meet her expectations.  Did the chapel and wandered over to see David.  He was good and Joe and Grace were able nap a bit behind David where an inordinate number young ladies seemed congregate looking David's backside.  I'll admit it, he's got good form.

Joe carried Grace the rest of the day between venues.   To the Palazzo Vecchio.  To the gelati store.  To the train station.  We actually got an earlier train back to Rome as we just couldn't see freezing any more with one that wasn't walking and one beginning to complain of ear and throat pain.

Snow still on the ground in Rome.  Mass at St. Peter's in the AM and finish up there and we'll see where it takes us.