Florence and Tuscany

Conversation:

Ari: What do you think we should do in Florence?

Ghinwa: We should do laundry!

Ari: But there are so many places to see.

Ghinwa: I don't want to see them in stinky clothes!

In contrast to Venice, Florence was both beautiful and gracious. We decided to stay at an airbnb there, and we were fortunate to have a host who was also a local tour guide! She gave us a customized low down on how to make the most of our time in Florence. The next morning we arrived at the Uffizi Gallery right as they were opening the doors to beat the crowds. Their stunning Renaissance collection was our favorite. Ghinwa continued to the Museo del Bargello to look at some of Michelangelo's earlier work, while Ari went back home to check on laundry! Then onwards to the Duomo, the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele, Ponte Vecchio, ....

By mid-afternoon, we had thoroughly worn ourselves out. So we took a nap in a public rose garden. Feeling refreshed, we climbed to Piazzale Michelangelo and were rewarded with beautiful views of the city.

We had a great end to our day -- a Skype chat with Taan and baby Noam Sseki!

We spent the next couple of days exploring the surrounding countryside of Tuscany. Our first stop was in a tiny town called Lari, famed for the region's oldest pasta making factory called Martelli. After receiving a personalized tour of the facility, we bought 6 pounds of pasta to bring home! The next day we squeezed in a hike that began in a thorny, confusing forest and ended as a gentle meander along a series of olive tree gardens.

"YOU ate all my pasta."

A donkey at our Tuscany campsite