My second day in Paris has far fewer pictures than the first. I attempted to begin at the Musee d'Orsay, but after waiting in line to get in for over an hour and only being about halfway through the line, I gave up. Perhaps on another visit. For the most part, I simply wandered around where I had already been, simply enjoying the city.
I had a fantastic croque madame in a cafe along one of the avenues. At around 3 o'clock, fearful I wouldn't be able to get down to the Paris-Bercy station in time to catch my night train to Florence, I packed up my things and headed for the nearest metro station.
Fortunately, I DID catch my train, and the following morning I awoke to a very different view from the one I have grown accustomed to in the Netherlands, one with lots and lots of hills. Tuscany. Is. GORGEOUS.
My hostel was a fantastic little place within sight of the Duomo. I learned over the course of the day that Florence doesn't look like a terribly big city...until you walk the length and breadth of it, out and back again! By the end of the day, I was pleased but exhausted. For someone as fond of artwork as I am (not in the least such historical artwork), Florence was amazing.
First, I went for lunch. I had some absolutely amazing spinach and ricotta ravioli in butter and sage sauce. YUM! I then spent some time wandering around, acquainting myself with the exterior of the Duomo and the surrounding streets, before I headed Michelangelo's David. It was breathtaking. Frankly, much of the rest of the museum he was in was a bit...lackluster. Even as avid a historian and art-lover as I got bored. But then I was standing before the David. And he was just...wow. He almost doesn't look like he is carved from stone. I have an even greater appreciation of Michelangelo's work. Sadly, the museum security was unhappy with anyone who even LOOKED like they might be CONSIDERING using their cellphone's camera capabilities, so I am afraid I have nothing to show you.
After the museum, I went and got myself gelato! Mmmmmmmm! I then headed south, crossing the Ponte Vecchio and looking at all the very silly gold-sellers shops. From there, I walked along the road and climbed the long paths to the Piazza le Michelangelo. What a view!
THEN, I turned around and went all the way back down and set my sights on the Santa Croce church. I visited the graves of Galileo, Machiavelli, and Dante, and then walked north again to the great domed synagogue. Finally, after a couple of wrong turns, I made it back to the Piazza del Duomo to find that the great big crowd in front of the famous Baptistry doors had disappeared, and I was able to take some decent photographs. Granted, they're the replicas, but they're still amazing.
I then finished off my evening with some lasagna and some tiramisu. And I was then exhausted and went to bed!
Enjoy they pictures. I'll post the last batch when I have the chance.
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| The Musee d'Orsay is a lovely building, but after an hour in line, this was still my view of it... |
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| In Florence, my view of the Duomo from the front doorstep of my hostel. Not a bad location, huh? |
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| I just love this church. It doesn't have a very exciting interior (as you'll see soon enough), but the exterior is just magnificent. All white and green marble. |
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| A view of Tuscany down a random street. |
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| Mmmmmmmmm! Strawberry gelato! |
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| One of the major market centers. |
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| Headed south across the river. |
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| Still headed south. I loved the little street and the sign off to the right. |
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| Well, this is Florence! The view from the Piazza le Michelangelo. |
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| And back down we go... |
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| The Santa Croce church. |
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| Galileo. I apologize for the terrible photo quality. The lighting inside the church was, as usual, terrible. |
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| Dante. |
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| Machiavelli. |
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| The synagogue. |
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| Ghiberti's doors. Michelangelo called them the Gates of Paradise. |
