Florence at its finest.

We had a free day to explore Florence today, and explore we did!!  Ally and I pried ourselves out of bed at around 7:30, even though our alarms had been set for 7:00...it was difficult to wake up when we didn't have the threat of the bus leaving us...

However, we had our hearts set on climbing the dome of the duomo and then climbing the bell tower.  We aren't working out at all on this trip but we did climb over 1,000 steps today in the 96 degree Italian sun, so...I think we're doing okay.  What gorgeous views we breathed in today.  I took pictures, but it won't be the same for you.  There's no way to capture what we saw this morning on our climb.  Part of it was the climb itself.  At one point I let Ally know that my personal hell would be climbing down an endless set of spiral stairs in the dark with no railing...which was exactly what we did during part of  our climb today.

After the bell tower we set out for the market, where you can buy fresh food for your lunch.  We purchased a pesto cheese and some focaccia bread, along with some cherries, strawberries, and raspberries.  It was the best lunch we've had!  Then we went out to the market square.  You can buy anything there, from scarves to bags, to t-shirts, to jewelry!!  I purchased two pairs of FABULOUS Italian shoes, and a long flowy skirt that I'll be able to wear at the Vatican.

We went to the Uffizi Museum this afternoon and saw many of the great Renaissance master pieces of art.  It was awe inspiring and I wished I could have taken pictures!!  Unfortunately...this tour was guided and I couldn't sneak any good pics like I normally do!!  We saw original Botticelli's, works from Michelangelo, and Leonardo Davinci!  It was a very impressive museum.

On our way home Ally and I stopped to rest our poor feet and have some dinner.  We may or may not have polished off two bottles of wine in the process.  When we arrived back at our room we threw open the windows and sang out the window to the streets below, then we gathered some of our family members at the rooftop terrace and shared another bottle of wine on our last night in Florence.  It was a magical evening that I'll not soon forget.  I'm so looking forward to Rome tomorrow...and also wearing my new, hot pink, Italian leather heels at some point!

                                                                           Peace, Love, and Travel,
                                                                           Reba

This fountain sits in the Piazza Della Signoria.  I'm giving the Italian hand gesture for "watch your back," because Neptune looks like he's about to kick some ass.

Waiting in line to climb the dome!

The homestretch...by this point we had already climbed about 450 stairs.

MADE IT!!

Next, we set out to climb this beauty!  The bell tower.

View of where we had just been (the balcony at the top of the dome) from the top of the bell tower.

Jesus, sitting in the final judgement.  This is the fresco on the underside of the dome.

It's a beautiful yet terrifying scene complete with the devil eating a small child and someone in hell getting their spinal cord ripped out...yikes!

Just one of the many veggie stands at the market.

Mmm mmm mmm!

Farm fresh lunch.

Ally bought this beautiful leather jacket!  The owner of the shop took us all the way back to the stock room so she could hand pick the exact one she wanted!!

Big bill...big pen...

We got Lemonchello for free after dinner!  People keep doing that to us...

Gorgeous view of the Duomo as the sun sets in Florence. 

Singing out of the hotel window to the passer-byes below!

Free concert for the plebeians!!

New boots!!  Rodeo, here we come.

New heels!! Jessica will be so happy!!

Family time!