A Date with David

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

August

6/8

Pisa and Florence - Italy

Ooo this part really was a whirlwind! We drove through to Florence, speed stop-overing at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I loved it, but man, it's tiny! I thought it was going to be much taller. I amused myself looking at people trying to get the forced perspective shots - they look so idiotic, and we grabbed a quick lunch.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, (freestanding bell tower) of Pisa's cathedral. The tower's tilt began during construction, caused by an inadequate foundation. The tilt increased in the decades before the structure was completed and continued until it's recent re-stabilisation in 2008. Now the tower's top is 3.9 meters from it's vertical position.

Me, pointing again, just incase you don't know where to look.

"Have you got it?" "Is this right?" The tourists were more fun to watch than the buildings.

Unfortunately we only had the next morning in Florence, and a LOT to pack in. We went for a leather demo, and I got a gorgeous wee leather bound book to use as a travel diary for the next trip. I started a pattern - I had picked up a book in McLeodganj when I was in India and was using that for this trip, my Florentine book would be used for my upcoming Thailand trip and so on. We went on a guided walking tour and hit most of the landmarks briefly.

Assisting the leather demo, using the stamp and gold leaf. The poor guy did not know how to react to disparaging my "Is this a kangaroo!?" ruining his surprise, and my reluctance to accept the Australian souvenir.

Facade of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)

Florence's Town Hall, the entranceway was the original home of David.

Ponte Vecchio

Afterwards, we whipped past the striking Duomo, forsaking the winding walk up the dome, for a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers stunning panoramic views of the city.

Lana, Maddy, Nikki, Me, Mindy, Corrine, Strange Man

On our way down we crossed the stunning Ponte Vecchio, a 'closed-spandrel' bridge that still has the original elite jewellery shops lining it.

After quickly grabbing some lunch on the go, I broke off from the main party, absolutely determined to see David before I left. I had hoped to squeeze in Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus', but it was at a different gallery, and I was forced to pick. Glancing at my new Swatch (that I picked up the day AFTER I left Switzerland, in Nice) I had about an hour to get through the line, appreciate Michelangelo's crowing glory and get back to the hostel for our departure. I joined the back of the queue at the Academia with an estimated 3 hour wait, feeling depressed, until a girl sold me a 'skip the queue' ticket for an outrageous price, and I was in in 20. I was so ecstatic at my success I snuck in a sneaky pic (oops!), took a lingering look at David's tight buttocks, and sped off to make the bus in time. Florence was one of the places along my journey I could see myself living in - it was relaxed, cultured and felt like an alive city, despite its rich heritage and awesome culture. It is high up on the revisiting list, and next time, I will have hours to gaze on Michelangelo and Botticelli's best artworks.

He was so fabulous. Not supposed to take photos, which I usually fully respect, but I had a moment of insanity.