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Italy trip - Florence on Oct 19 (2) Florence is a bigger city than Lucca that has international airport. We went to the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its dome designed by Brunelleschi. Photo 1: I stood on a top of a hill in Florence where tourists can bird-view the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Please look my background. Photo 2: Florence Cathedral, formally the Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral of Florence, Italy. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. (I couldn't take a better picture, so I use Google photo to show you.) Photo 3: Michaelangelo’s David Outside the palace, to the left of the entrance stands a life-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David. Many people think he is the real deal since he seems so perfect, but David‘s real home is in Galleria dell’Accademia. The replica stands tall and beautiful nonetheless and is a popular photo location for tourists. To the right of the entrance is Bartolomeo Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus; a great view from all angles. Photo 4: Neptune’s Fountain To the left of David stands Neptune’s Fountain, adding to even more amazing art filling the square. He is an incredibly imposing figure, and surprisingly photogenic. Photo 5: Santa Croce Basilica Tourists need to buy ticket and wait long line to get in this beautiful Basilica. Due to the free time only 1 and 1/2 hour and return to the meeting point, so I didn't go inside. However, I stood outside of Santa Croce Basilica for a picture taken. Photo 6: A group picture for my first group of 15 people at Piazza della Signoria after the free time we meet again. Piazza della Signoria is the jackpot of outdoor art. Although the square is the home of the famous Palazzo Vecchio, the hub of government and politics of the time, the square offers more than architecture. To the right of the old political palace is a loggia, or outdoor room, where many sculptures are on display for all to see. Photo 7: Perseus With the Head of Medusa It is a very scaring sculpture of a man cut off a woman's head and holding the woman's head. I didn't ask question about this scaring sculpture. Enter inside the main doors of the palace and you will find yet another outdoor (and free) surprise. The arches in the entry courtyard are intricately painted and the frescoes are well preserved so they can still be enjoyed today. The columns of the arches are each designed and carved with great manship, and the fountain in the middle is just the right touch so as to not overpower.       Honesty is the best policy. |
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This is just the beginning of my Italy journey that I want to share with you, so I uploaded 7 photos in this blog, but only one went through. I keep getting a message "connection failure". I have tried and tried, nothing worked. So, bear with me that I can't upload the pictures. Today is Thanksgiving Day, so I gave Chinese FriendFinder a break and I will call them on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving and have a turkey dinner. This year I am exhusted from 36 days traveling so I don't cook. My daughter came home with her newly wed husband (a year+), my son (lives w/ me) and I will go out to enjoy a scrumptious holiday feast. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. (Italians don't celebrate Thanksgiving, it is an American holiday) Honesty is the best policy.
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I think Italians are very talent in art such as "architecture" design in cathedral and duomo, oil paintings, glass window paintings, sculptures, ceiling paintings, ... The most famous person is Michelangelo. In classical music "opera" i.e. famous 3 tenors and many sopranos extend to musical instruments symphony performance. In archaeology field to discover the buried ancient buildings, tombs, ... including the most famous Colosseum, Temple of Mars Avenger, Roman Forum and Basilica Julia, .... The Pantheon, ... many had been destroyed by barbarians or earthquakes, or WWII (2nd World War). They have the talent that rest of world lack of. Most Italians speak poor English because their English TV shows using Italian language to cover the English speaking actor or actress voices. In Italy, most people drive "Fiat" and Mercedes-Benz "Smart". Those cars are very small because the roads are extremely narrow. The park the cars in line only an inch away from another car. I wonder how they can get out from parking. When they drive so close to the car in front, I am very afraid they will rear-ended the front car but they didn't. Amazing. I won't drive like Italians in USA, I keep good distance. USA roads are much wider and streets are straight, but in Italy the road are cobblestone up and down, narrow, sudden curve, .... not easy to find the place in the allies. Even on "High Way" (or Freeway) there are only two lanes (one to go and one to return direction). No passing lane. If you want to pass a car, you'd better be careful the incoming opposite direction cars. Although the famous Italian luxury cars are Lamborghini, Ferrari, .... but in my 36 days in Italy I have never seen one of luxury cars. I just saw so many tiny Fiat cars that Made in Italy. One Saturday morning we saw about 60 - 100 Porsche cars (German made) on the road. The #1 sport for Italians is Football (Soccer) game, #2 is bicycling. We've been told more bikers in the recent decade for sports. Tuscany is a countryside area. They planted vineyards after vineyards thousand of acres. They planted olive trees for olive oil. The harvest time for olive trees are only 2 and 1/2 months busy time. Italians drink coffee in the morning, in the afternoon and nighttime. They have to have Coffee many times (I can't sleep if I drink coffee after 11 am. That's why Starbucks only opened on coffee shop in Milan and business is very slow. Italians (Americans also) drink red wine for lunch and dinner. This is the first time that I drank so much wine. Italians eat pasta every day. Honesty is the best policy.
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