My 60th Birthday Bash - Back Where We Started, Barcelona

 

My 60th Birthday Bash - Cannes

My 60th Birthday Bash - Relax Day

My 60th Birthday Bash - Piza and Florence

The day started out well with an actual hot shower, so things were looking up.  I mistakenly thought our meeting time was 7:15, when it was actually 7:45, so I was WAY early again.

Got on the bus and our guide again was awesome.  She is a Livorno local who urged us to try exploring that city (where we docked) if we had no plans the next day.  Her descriptions made it very enticing.  She then told us about our itierary.  Piza was only for an hour as there wasn't much to do there except for taking pictures of the tower.  Also warned us about the plethora of pickpockets there.  If we all got to the meeting place on time, we might have extra time in Florence as traffic was light that day.

Got us all off the bus and hearded us to our meeting point.  On the way, she loudly called out that the known group of local pickpockets was headed our way and to be careful.  Thusly alerted, the group of young women who were so obviously called out, made a detour around our group. We got to the meeting place (a gift shop) and were pointed in the direction of the tower

It was very early and most of the shops surrounding the square where the tower is located hadn't even opened yet.  We were also too early for the usual crowds, so we soon reached the square.  The tower is the bell tower for a church and the tower is behind it.  In front is the enormous baptistry. 

The church and baptistry are pretty from the outside (no time to go in) and we all quickly made our way to the infamous Leaning Tower of Piza.

I took lots of photos of different angles

My obligatory funny selfie

And photos of some of the architectural details

And other statuary around the square.

More Tower...this time with the random statuary.

There were some photogenic sidewalk cafes

and you could ride around Piza in a horse drawn carriage.

In one of the museum entryways I found a coin-embossing machine!  This was the thrill of my day.  I picked up my usual souvenirs along with a bucket hat with a lemon pattern (because Italy) and we made our way back to the bus.  Another guide warned ours that the pickpockets had just hit her group, so we had another warning on the way. 

On the bus, we had more advice about visiting Florence.  We'd be meeting at Piazza di Santa Croce and the church there was the place where many famous people were buried.  She advised against trying to visit the Uffizi Galleries due to time constraints (long lines and too little time) as well as trying to see the original David.  These were two things I had been interested in, but she made sense…so I adjusted my plans to a more leisurely visit. 

We first stopped at a leather and gold factory/shop for a brief talk and demonstration in payment for using their bathrooms.  They had some really lovely stuff, but I don't need any more purses or gold jewelry

We did get a demonstration of the artistry of hand embossing leather with gold leaf, which was interesting.

Business there completed, I decided to head to the Duomo to see the famous red domed church.  I also needed lunch. 

Google maps didn't steer me wrong and I was soon there.

The Duomo itself was gorgeous with it's white and green marble with pops of pink. Of course, it was undergoing restoration because any place I visit, at least one major attraction is undergoing restoration. 

In this case, I agree that it was time…

The square around the Duomo is full of artists selling their paintings and sidewalk restaurants. I wandered around for awhile until I settled on one on the shady side.

I had Caprese salad

and fresh made gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnut sauce.  With the house red wine, of course!  It was amazing.

After finally getting the check (eating in Italy is a leisurely process) and using their toilet, I headed toward the Uffizi, not to go in but because there is a small collection of statuary by the entrance, including a Michelangelo's David. 

I walked past this very cool Neptune fountain.

And found David in all of his glory.

Here are some of the other statues.

I then began to just aimlessly wander around.  Our meeting time was 4:15, so around 3:00 I headed back.  I had plenty of time to go into the Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze where many illustrious Italians were laid to rest.

Here lies Machiavelli

And Galileo

And Marconi

Finally, the one I was most interested in finding, Michelangelo.

Exited the Basilica, where they were about to start a service and went to buy a couple of souvenirs.   That accomplished, I went to bake in the sun at our meeting place.

Back on the bus, we went back to the ship via a different route and went up a hill to Michaelangelo square, which overlooks the city.  No time to stop, but we got a glimpse of another David, this one in Bronze.

We went down the hill past some pricey villas and could see a bit of the original wall around Florence.   The rest of the drive was scenic, past yellow-walled villas, vineyards, and rows of olive trees. After all, this is Tuscany.

Got back to the ship with a bit of time to clean up and change for my Japanese Hibachi dinner, which was fun.