3-hour train ride from venice to florence, 2 beers on the train and we are on clouds but florence knows how to slam you down to earth. ahhh all the soul rejuvenation and unbearable lightness of being immediately flees the scene leaving you with a heavy rock tied to your leg as you are slowly heading down to the bottom of the ocean.
our hotel is the cheapest in florence because rates are unbelievably expensive. it looks kind of like a hostel with mold on the walls but it's huge and the bed sheets are fresh as spring flowers. this is all i care. clean and big room with a friendly italian receptionist who looks kind of like keanu revees.
as we head out to attack florence, one thing is obvious.. this is no city to relax. cars, scooters, motorbikes, bicycles, flood of tourists coming from every direction at all costs. they are not kidding with you, they are going to devour you if you stand in their way. itsy bitsy sidewalks. we find ourselves running for our lives as the huge busses, scooters speed in the narrow, people flooded streets going 60 mph.
first things first, the famous brunelleschi’s dome. the sight is beyond amazing. after seeing so many cathedrals, churches, i imagine this one being as one of those, but it is not. this is the most impressive church i have ever seen in my life. it’s huge and majestic. words come short to describe the feeling. it’s worth abusing your soul and your body in this nightmarish town. the dome designed by brunelleschi started the renaissance. he even came up with all the materials needed to build it. as we start heading to the top of the dome, it hits you that this climb ain’t gonna be an easy one. 463 steps later with shaky legs, we are on top of florence. what an incredible sight. we have 20 minutes till the dome closes so there are no crowds to hinder our pleasant experience on brunelleschi’s dome as the sun is getting ready to descend, washing the hills and houses with soft yellow.
the frescos inside the dome are humongous and 3-dimensional. the legs of the men dangling from the very top as the angels are trying to hold the façade while the ugly creatures of hell are feeding the sinners into the inferno of hell.
next step, head to the piazza signoria to capture a shot of David’s balls. Don’t get too excited people.. it is not the real deal, it is an exact replica placed in a spot where the original was, but it’ll do just fine.
we eat dinner outside of a restaurant on a busy street, glass window separating us from that thin line of getting clipped. across the street is a huge medieval building with a cool plaza. 10 euro for lasagna and glass of merlot leaves my taste buds and pockets happy.
next day, we head to check out the medici palace, to see how the richest of the rich family lived. they were so rich that they decided to make their son the pope. we only see a couple of rooms, not the whole thing because it’s closed to public. it’s expensive for 7 euros just to see a couple of rooms. i am not that impressed. compared to dolmabahce palace in istanbul, this is nothing.
florence, a medieval town invaded by designer stores. there is gucci, channel, dolce & gabanna, fendi, louis vuitton all lined up across old buildings. certainly not a town for the faint of heart. lots of noise, people, traffic but worth the dome. go at your own risk!
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