FLORENCE, ROMA
After lots of vino from the night before at Zaza's and a fabulous dinner, we were slow moving on Sunday morning. After breakfast and some time showering we were ready to take on the day. A slow stroll through the markets and some much needed therapeutic shopping, we made it to the Uffizi, our activity for the day. Unfortunately nothing prepared us for the 3 1/2 hour wait in line. Luckily because there were three of us, Rosanna, Molly, and myself, we were able to take turns waiting in line while the others mosied in the markets and along the river. After seeing works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Carravagio, Leonardo, and other greats, we were feeling refreshed and ready to hit the gold markets of the Ponte Vecchio. (Sadly, no purchases!)
Dinner that night was an amazing array of fresh Italian dishes starting with fresh procuitto, mozzarella, tomatoes, pate, three kinds of pasta, six different desserts, and 5 assorted drinks with each course! We feasted until we were practically rolling each other out of the place (thanks again to recommendation by Augusta Nadler!) and walked home through a quiet Firenze.
Monday was spent on a wild goose chase to find a box in which to send gifts and over-packed clothing back home. Of course the Post Office didnt sell them, so we were sent all over the place looking for some alleged store that did sell them. When we finally found one, we had to fill out all kinds of forms and eventually paid more than what was worth for the box and its contents, and sent it on its merry way. We then said farewell to our friends from the hostel and hopped a train to Roma. Arriving in the late afternoon, we were greeted with warm sun and an easy walk to our hostel. We got here just in time to meet up with Lydia Guild, our good friend from Cohasset, who took us out for our first night in Rome. We had a delicious dinner and had fun hearing of Lydia's travels through Europe, as she is completing her 6 week trip soon.
We spent the day today (Tuesday) walking through Villa Borghese and down to the Trevi Fountain, where we snapped photos and threw coins over our shoulders into the water, to ensure a healthy trip back to Rome in the future. In the setting sun, we wrote post cards on the Spanish Steps and enjoyed a little people-watching. Thanks to a suggestion from our favorite waitress, Dee from Arthur & Pats, we had a yummy dinner at a little place just behind the Steps.