Europa!

We arrived in Milan about four days ago and spent 24 hours there. The food was okay, but our take on the place was that it was dirty and crowded. We were quite happy to leave for our next destination: Firenze!

Firenze, or Florence, is wonderful! It is much smaller, cleaner, more relaxed, and congenial. The food is excellent, and the sights are exquisite! We have eaten such delicious food that I can't even come close to describing it. Each morsel forced my eyes closed to better focus on all the flavour I was tasting. The wines that came with our meals were of a quality I had never known, and the desserts! I am surprised people are not fat! But then, with such quality, one does not feel the need for volume!

We went on a wine tour recently with a guide from NJ, and we were the only ones on the tour! Such is the way in the off-season. We drove up and down little hills, on narrow streets, seeming to go in circles, but in the end, we found ourselves surrounded by colors seen only in paintings, and grapes of such vivid color, paint could not capture it. We got to drink Chianti Classico, and learned about how it is produced. We sampled the best selections they had to offer, and bought some, one bottle of which had not yet even been labeled!

We walked all around the city, taking in ornate architecture at every turn. Even things as small as mailboxes received the Royal Italian treatment, looking like priceless museum pieces, centuries-old. We saw Cathedrals, museums, bridges, sculptures, and all kinds of paintings. My favroite place is the Palazzo Vecchio and the piazza fronting it with many powerful looking statues. The line for the venerated Uffizi Galleries was so long, we decided not to even try.

And now, all too quickly, our time here is coming to a close. We are to take a train tonight to Zurich, Switzerland. We'll be sleeping aboard the train in something known as a couchette.

For the moment, we are resting at the Hotel Aline's lobby area. The proprietor has very graciously permitted us to remain here, where it is warm, soft, safe and cozy.
After today's endless walking, we appreciate the chance to give our feet a rest!

Firenze mi piace molto!
Arrivederci Italia!

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