I am in love with bridges. I love the way they look, I love walking over them. I have several bookmarks of bridges I am dying to visit on my computer.
Once I had my airfare figured out for this trip and discovered I would be flying home from Milan, the first thing I did was check and see if a trip to Florence to see if Ponte Vecchio was feasible. It was! I am going to see Ponte Vecchio!
The train from Venice to Florence was one of those where you are forced to sit facing someone. The couple across from me were actually in the wrong car. They belonged in first class. When they were told this by the attendant, they opted to stay in their seats, across from me, facing me. MOVE GOD DAMMIT. YOU BELONG IN FIRST CLASS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I arrive in Florence in the evening. I am staying at Hotel Bellavista, located right near the train station. I always prefer being in walking distance of the train station so that I don’t risk being late and missing my train when it’s time to leave. I of course get lost, because this is what I do. This time it was because my map showed that if I were to make a right at the McDonalds, the street my hotel was on would be right there. Turns out it was, but I was making a right at the McDonalds near the train station exit and my map was referencing one right outside the train station. Who needs all these freaking McDonalds? We aren’t in America for crissakes.
I got to my hotel and was given a triple room (I paid for a single). I can not stress how comfortable this bed was. It was like sinking into a pillow.
Creepy hotel elevator:
No matter that I have been up since 3:00 am and traveled from Bled to Venice, fell in hate with Venice, got to Florence, got lost in Florence, I am sun burned and exhausted, who cares. PONTE VECCHIO.
The directions I had took me past the Duomo. One minute you are walking down a normal street, you turn a corner and BAM you are in front of the Duomo and Campanile . I love Europe.
I got lost (again) and found the River Arno a bit further down than I had planned. As I was walking, I could see Ponte Vecchio so tiny in the distance. I was so excited. Could not wait to see it closer.
I stood and just stared at it for about an hour. That feeling of wanting to just see something so bad and then to have that want realized? Ahhhhhh, feels so great.
This is from my cell phone:
These are from my camera:
Afterwards, it was time to pass out in my pillow bed. I set the alarm for a ridiculously early hour so I could go back and see Ponte Vecchio in the early morning daylight. It was even more beautiful.
Florence ended up being my second favorite place on this trip, right behind Bled. It had a bit of everything.
Another highlight was Boboli Gardens. It was so peaceful here.
I don’t know what this is all about.
There are statues and penises all over Florence:
Here is a fake David:
Random G-Rated pictures of Florence:
These were door handles on a lingerie store. Adorable:
On my last day in Florence, I got up at 6:00 and took a bus to Piazzale Michelangelo and watched the sunrise. This is an absolute must.
There is also another fake David up here:
Leaving Florence was depressing not only because I had loved it so much here, but also because it meant I was headed to my last stop of my vacation. Milan.