Highlights-Florence Day 3
I noted many ants in the kitchen this morning (don’t leave food out). Guidebooks (at least the one I consulted) claim that the Cathedral in Florence is more impressive outside than on the inside, so I stayed outside. Outside, the polychrome marble, white, green, and red, in repeating patterns is a favorite backdrop for glam photograph poses. It was striking (the marble patterns, not the glam poses). I did the Rick Steves Florence Renaissance Walk audio tour. It’s free and feels like being on a guided tour without the whisper box audio and tour guide flag. I was able to stare at statues commissioned by the guilds of Florence (Renaissance marketing) as long as I wanted. That is, as long as I stayed out of the way of taxis, delivery vehicles, and tourists marching behind their guides. The walk finished at the Ponte Vecchio (PON-tay VECK-ee-oh), which is the cool and romantic Italian way to say “old bridge.” I recognized several shots near the Arno river from the movie, A Room with a View.
Fashion Statement?
Or scuba goggles?
Eye Test?
If you didn’t have eyes, how would you see the sign?
Gelato with a View
No wonder it costs as much as a pizza!
The Tourist Guide Flag
If it’s coming your way, clear out!
Street Art in Florence
Renaissance style
Souvenir Cart Storage
I wondered where they went at night
Notable Items
I noticed that cafés that serve espresso fall into two distinct categories (everywhere, not just Florence). The first category is tiny places the size of walk-in closets, with garage doors open to the fresh air no matter what the weather is, baked goods (usually croissants and muffins) delivered by a third party in an unmarked van (no Muffins Are Us label), and seating that looks like it was used to extract confessions during the Inquisition. When I have options, I walk past.
Places in the second category serve alcohol and espresso drinks, various baked goods (sometimes prepared onsite), and have tables with chairs that won’t earn a loyalty discount card with a chiropractor. This was Caffè San Firenze, a place I visited frequently in Florence.
One of my frequent puzzles is, gelato in a cup or on a cone? Cup delivery comes with a disadvantage that does not get a warning label, although it should. Dripping gelato doesn’t cover your hand, granted. But it goes to the bottom of the cup, and you have to chase it around with a tiny, flat paddle. It’s like consuming milk with a fork! You can’t tip the shallow cup up and drink it without getting gelato on your nose (we know how that looks). If the Italian government can use its legislative power to regulate hotel wall heating, surely they could require spoons for eating gelato!
Two thoughts:
Look out for the tour group leader flag in motion, especially when the person rounds a corner before coming towards you. There is surely a mass of humanity coming behind it. Best practice: immediately cross to the other side of the street.
Taxis in Florence are equipped with high-pitched beepers (like delivery trucks backing up). When they come to a tourist group wandering around a street like an amoeba, they activate this signal. If that doesn’t work, there’s always the horn.