The Oliphants

September 18th - Exploring Florence

Breakfast on the go (no time to eat at our hotel) as we ran to the Uffizi (birth of Venus). Lunch at I Fratellini (famous for sandwiches) to the Accademia(David), then lots of market shopping. Dinner at Acqua al Due (yumm!) and up into Michaelangelo's Square for an incredible nighttime view of the city.

David...who else?

The Duomo...every inch is amazingly detailed!

We had so much fun market shopping. Chris brought back lots of silk ties, we found a beautiful olive oil decanter for our home, and I found a leather purse, jacket and gloves! We also found a doll for Ila, soccer jerseys for the boys, and gifts for our parents.

We loved the gelato here!

Cool old bell tower

Ponte Vecchio bridge

We just thought these bridges were cool!

Ponte Vecchio

Accademia

Rowing team in Florence

View of the Medici home in the background (on the hill)

Ponte Vecchio bridge at night (the jewelry shops on the bridge stayed open late)

Strolling along Michaelangelo's Square (lots of couples were making out!)

September 17th - Lucca & Florence

We had breakfast at our hotel, checked out, and went to see the Towerof the Giulini family and the bell tower. Both had beautiful views of old Lucca! We browsed the International market where I bought a cute Italian dress for e10 & pashminas. Chris bought a compass (wish we'd had it in Venice!), and we got sandwiches & delicious olives for a picnic on the wall. Off to get our bags and take the train to Firenze. It was just over an hour long ride, so we arrived by 5 and took a bus to our hotel (nice since our luggage is falling apart!). The Grand Mediterraneo Hotel is on the river and within walking distance to everything we want to see. After freshening up, we went to a restaurant near the Uffizi and made reservations (Osteria Vini e Veechi Sapori) for 7:30. We walked around the square and peeked in a few shops, then ate one of the best dinners we've had in Italy! We split the caprese salad and 2 incredible pasta dishes...ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese, topped with a meat sauce, and a flat, wide pasta with duck sauce. Then creamy tiramisu with raspberry sauce for dessert. Only 16 people are seated in this tiny and fun ma & pa restaurant. We walked over the Ponte Vecchio bridge, with a beautiful view of the river. The Duomo was incredible at night with a full moon. We got to talk to Mom, Lauren and the boys when we got back to our hotel...what a treat! We left messages for Mimi & Boppy.

View of Lucca from the Tower of the Giulini family

The bell tower in Lucca

lots of red roofs!

Enjoying the view of Florence from the bridge by our hotel

Florence!

The Duomo...it was truly magnificent!!!

picnic on the wall in Lucca

Another view of the Duomo at night

September 16th - Pisa & Lucca

We enjoyed our last breakfast in Manarola before taking the train to Pisa, a collegiate town filled with students, cyclists, and tons of tourists. We had fun browsing the shops, enjoying the river view an dining at a nice little cafe. On to see the tower and other sights of the square. After taking pics at the tower, we were off to Lucca. It was a long, but pretty walk under the wall surrounding "old Lucca" and to our hotel. We enjoyed popping in and out of the local shops, walked through an art university, and had dinner at Vecchia Trattoria Bieralli (everything recommended by Rick Steve's has been great so far!). The meaty ravioli (a local specialty) and steak were fabulous! We walked around the city (one of the few Italian cities with the original wall left standing), which was beautiful at night (incredible views and lots of runners out tonight).

last view of the pretty terraced hills of Manarola

Chris sitting on our balcony...goodbye Cinque Terre!

view from the bridge as we arrived in Pisa

on our way to the leaning tower!

the beautiful cathedral

the streets of Pisa

It wasn't as heavy as I would have thought!

cathedral in Pisa

the walls of Lucca at night

September 15th - Rainy day in Riomaggiore

After Chris bandaged my foot (nice open wound from the friendly coral!), we had a leisurely walk along Lover's Lane to Riomaggiore. It drizzled a bit on the way there, more as we climbed the castle tower, and poured as we got to the top. We sat a while, then donned our rainjackets and went to get a pizza for lunch. After buying a lock, we walked back to th hot spot wher many lovers have "locked" their love in the past. You're supposed to throw away the key, but we kept one, and hid the other in a crevice by the lock, in case we get to come back (and we sure hope to!) someday. After taking our clothes to the laundromat at the hostel across the street from our B&B (they do it for you!), we took the Manarola walk in Rick Steve's book, from the top of town, through the vineyards, to the cemetary and lookout point, ending at the harbor. After freshening up, we had a sunset dinner a La Scogliera, where we met an interesting couple from New Zealand. Since Cinque Terre is the capitol of pesto, we each ordered a pesto dih (lasagna and ravioli) for dinner. Their tiramisu was the best we've ever had! Back to our hotel to soak in the hot tub.