Florence

What does one say about one of the most beautiful cities in the world, except ...maybe... see you soon - we bought tickets to see both the Uffizi and the Academia on friday,so we will most definitely see florence again. I know this is a busy time in Europe but today proved it, in Florence there were so many  people. We started our day at the Duomo but with a line that stretched for miles we wandered off - today was about wandering we hadn't booked anything it was just to look, and look we did.  Before we left home we had downloaded a few audio guides,

which I thought my 4 teenage, obsessed with having ear plugs in their ears, children would enjoy.  So today we did the renaissance tour which was all about wandering - which was good since that was my theme for the day.  We listened and walked and even managed to get chastised in a church for taking photos (actually it was Bella and she wasn't she was just listening to her audio guide - but anyway).  We wandered past statues, churches, monuments, shops selling leather goods (which we must come back to) and down to the Ponte Vecchio where we found lunch.  Then we continued wandering having a look at the oldest tower in Florence before finding ourselves back at the Duomo where strangely there was a very little line; so we joined it - but both Bella and Kaela with their shorts and singlet tops were denied entry.  So myself and the boys had a look and the guide books were right it was a little disappointing.
We were all done for the day but were a little reluctant to head back to the car for the trip home, why.... because of the drive..... it really isn't a long drive  only about 25 km but Matthew managed to fight with the GPS, yes the mechanical navigational aide,  on our way here so none of us really wanted to listen to the argument all the way home.  Matthew was not happy with the GPS because for some reason it would not let him on the autostrada (highway) so we back roaded all the way to Florence - which I might add was very beautiful for us - rolling hills, vineyards, little towns, but not so beautiful for him.

But we had to get back in the car and surprise surprise he fought all the way home - the kids and I were laughing so hard as we continually zig zagged over the autostrada yet never managing to get on - but we did make it home and again it was through the most beautiful of countrysides.