After 3 days it was on to Florence, where Dino and I spent a week soaking up all Tuscany has to offer. We had been wanting to go to Florence for years after watching David Rocco's Dolce Vita, a travel/food show filmed in Florence. Firenze upheld its elegant appearance we tuned into watch every Sunday morning. The late-medieval looking centre with it's markets, famous works of art from Leondardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli to name a few, romantic piazzas and traditional food, including the famous Florentine Steak (not for wusses) - bellissimo! We skirted to the quaint villages of Siena and the small walled medieval hill town of San Gimignano to gasp at the most breathtaking views of Tuscany. Saying good-bye to Florence was not easy. I hope to return one day.
Our final destination, Venice. On first arrival, Venice seemed like a bit of an amusement park. Swarms of tourists packed on to vaporetti's (water buses), us included. As we traveled to our stop, we were both thinking just how far our hotel would be from where we would get dropped off. Our suitcases were now packed to the max, and significantly heavier, and did I mention it was 90 degrees out. I remember booking the hotel specifically for it's location in proximity to the stop. And it kinda was, 3 bridges later. As our trip went on we heard the echo of many a suitcase being dragged up and down stairs of bridges, and each time brought a chuckle and dry heave. Don't get me wrong, aside from the many tourists, the blazing heat, the overpriced tourist traps, Venice was beautiful and there is nothing quite like it. We wandered off the beaten path to discover the local fare of quaint streets, laundry hanging across the narrow canals, fishermen coming in with the day's catch, and family restaurants that served up fresh local dishes.
To Dino and I, it was a dream trip and the perfect honeymoon. Here is a tasting of some of the many pictures I had a pleasure taking.
