Grand Hotel Ambasciatori Montecatini Terme

... and we stayed until we were ready to retire for the evening.<br><br>Sat 14 Nov<br>Next day we had a sleep-in and then went for a run around the 4km city walls. Twice around was enough for Kim and I managed a 3rd. After a shower we were back in town for more meandering and I had one of the best Cupuccio's (Capuccino) ever!! We found a few hours during siesta to catch up with the ...

... was buzzing with a variety of languages and the overall atmosphere was jubilant and festive. Despite challenges with the "menu", it was a great way to end our visit to Italy. <br><br>We'll retrace our steps through Rome tomorrow and will wind up in London for the night before catching our flight back to San Francisco on Sunday. It was quite fitting to end our journey in Florence, where so much of our current culture emerged centuries ago. <br>

... I've seen images of it but I guess they faded from my memory because the inside is quite ornate. The dome alone is breath taking. Mass is still held at the Pantheon &amp; couples even get married here. I cannot imagine this location! :) <br><br>From the Pantheon, at about 11AM, we went to a gelato shop Chris M recommended. Mmmm, mmmm good. It was brisk outside and we had just had breakfast and we loved it even more. While enjoying these ...

Just realized those not on facebook haven't seen pictures from Pisa and Florence. No long recap of Anthony and I's weekend in Tuscany, for obvious reasons. Also note that "Anthony and Alison's Great Adventure" was like taking a knife.<br><br>Love you guys! :)<br>

... on the next hill. Drove all around the countryside (which I hate to say is much bigger and impressive than Napa). Wine is so cheap and good but unfortunately the majority of grapes had just been picked. Also ventured into Florence for two days of sightseeing. This is one place that is as magnificent as tpublished pictures!

... gelateria right before the bridge to get some drinks, and finished them by the time we reached the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the bridge. We filled up our empty bottles before picking up tickets and heading into the Boboli Gardens. The event that they were setting up when I was there the last couple times is an enormous stage for the performance of an opera. The main stage looks to be completed, and it's located on the Westernmost end of the garden. A second stage is being ...

... let's just call them T and D, who took longer than a girl going to prom to get ready for anything) were taking their sweet time getting ready. We knew where the apartment was - right near the Palazzo dei Pitti - but we were still unsure if the invite was valid or just a drunk muttering from a girl that was almost home to her gentlemen escorts. When we got there and they buzzed us up, we could tell by their first question that it ...

... di Betto Bardi). Also, Botticelli made an appearance and we liked one of the gory paintings- Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. We then walked to the Santa Croce area where we had dinner at a cheap little place. Bernie had four cheese gnocci that she had been craving since France and Jess had Margarita pizza (we were in Italy after all). We were the only people in there, we thought it was because we were eating so early (7 pm is very early for Italians) but Bernie ...

... I'm really glad I got the opportunity to hang out with them as much as I did. After getting a bit settled we all went into town and just walked around. Everything was closed as the 24th is a big holiday for them - bummer to the fact that everything was closed, buuuuut really sweet that there were fireworks that night! We ate dinner at this great little pizza/pasta place that was recommended by the receptionist at the hostel, and let ...

... too. Almost all guys as well, I don't know where the women hide in this city, if they exist at all in any sort of number. The market was the best part of the place though. Met a great Canadian girl from Edmonton, and did a museum today, the Uffizi, which if you are into religious art you would love, but I am a little overloaded on religious art the last two months so I didn't really enjoy it. Saw the birth of Venus though. Famous Botticelli painting so there you go. Other than that, I ...