Some guy named David, a palace, a tower and two views

On day 4 we enjoyed the town of Florence. We had morning tickets to the Academia to see David. The funny thing about seing David is that you can never get enough of him. He is just so impressive, and even more impressive is to know the story behind him. Michaelangelo used a piece of stone that was thought to be too shallow and with too many imperfections to be used for carving. And Michaelangelo did not make a plaster model like other sculpters did, before he started working. He felt that the forms were buried in the rock and his job was simply to reveal them. He did not view himself as a creator, but as one who reveals something created by someone else. And he completed David at the ripe old age of 26. We always feel a little intimdated when we hear that last bit of information. Also impressive are the 6 half finished works that line the hallway up to David. These are carvings that he started, but for one reason or another he left them unfinished. They are amazing because you get to see how he worked, the scrapes and chisel marks, the emergance of the forms from the rock as if they are trying to break free. It is all so impressive. After the Academia we went for a walk to find some wifi, then across the Ponte Vecchio towards the Pitti Palace. Along the way we stopped in some of the artisal shops looking for a few gifts. At the Pitti Palace we decided that Michelle and Brenda were more interested in the house, and Tim and Greg were more interested in the gardens. So we split up and (per the lessons learned at the Vatican) decided on a definite meeting time and place. Tim felt the gardens were amazing. Michelle enjoyed her time in the house, seeing how kings, queens, dukes, duchesses and even Napoleon (at one time) used to live. The ceiling heights and decoration were amazing to behold. Imagine one day being tired of the Carravaggio fresco painted on your ceiling so you call up our good friend Michaelangelo and ask him to give you something new. Oh the layers of masterpieces that are burried deep on each ceiling! After rejoining together we all walked back to the room to refresh and regroup before heading out to hike up the dome of the Duomo. There are 473 steps up (and 473 steps down!) but the views of the city were outstanding. So impressive and worth the aching calves and thighs in the morning. And something new for Tim and Michelle to have experienced. Once back on the ground we decided that the day was not yet done. We bought some meat, cheese and wine at a local grochery store and headed to the bus stop to catch the bus up to Piazza Michelangelo. The plan was to have dinner and a sunset view over the city in the piazza. This piazza is at the top of a hill and was recommended by a guidebook with the warning that to hike the hill was very strenuous. Having just hiked up a church dome, we dilligently bought our bus tickets and waited at the stop. Only to find out that the bus we wanted only went to that stop during school hours. Since this was around 7:00pm, we had the option to either scratch the idea or hike to the top. Take a guess which option we chose. Yup, up the hill we went, and it was a little like the hike to the top of the dome except the steps were wider and the view was amazing all the way up. And not very hard at all. Once we were at the top we realized that apart from the view, it was one big parking lot. So down the hill we hiked with our meat and cheese to the apartment. Back at the apartment we enjoyed each others company over a simple meal. It was another fun filled day with friends. Tomorrow we are in for some shopping and a day trip to Sienna. Ciao!