Florence

Tuesday September 17 - 88 km and 'only' 1200 metres of climbing - steepness 19% at one point (we were walking the bikes) according to Mr. Gamin. But that steep climb (on a dirt road no less) took us into absolutely gorgeous Chianti vineyards - worth all the moaning and groaning while walking our bikes.

In many towns on the route, we see bicycle art or monuments related to Italian cycling and the Gyro d'Italia, one here with Rae and Maurice and Fiona Efron who we rode with last year in Korea and Japan and who compete with us for being last people to finish each day.

Consistent with Italy's love of cycling as a sport, Italian drivers are unbelievably aware of bicycles and frequently wait behind us as we go uphill at 8 km/hr, waiting until they can see far enough ahead to pass and not once have we heard one of them toot (or blast) a horn. Could you imagine that on BC's Sea-to-Sky highway.

More twists and turns and then a nice descent to the Arno River to enter Florence from the southeast.

Dinner for Ursula was Chitarrina al tartufo fresco (fresh truffles) at the nearby Antica Trattoria il Giardino, a short enough walk that light drizzle didn't matter.

We now have two days to enjoy Florence and do things like laundry and photo editing and blog writing. Here's a start:

The Duomo and Glotto Bell Tower

Plaza della Repubblica for a nice pizza and glass of wine for lunch.
The leather market where I'm sure I have a photo of my Dad from 55 years ago
Ursula checking out the merchandise - these little shops are everywhere and they close up and disappear in the early evening leaving nothing behinds, then they're back next day.
Ponte Vecchio - filled with tourists and gold merchants
Pallazo Vecchio,,, 
and a copy of Michelangelo's David which is in the Uffizi gallery
and a do-not-enter sign entirely appropriate to the locale,
the walkway between the wings of the Uffizi gallery leading back to the Arno River...
the other side of the river, roughly where we arrived, and the Piazalle Michelangelo
the Franciscan Basilica di S. Croce
This was the farthest point from our hotel. We had dinner nearby after which we had a wet walk in pouring rain. That was Wednesday so everything had lots of time to dry as Thursday was another day in Florence.
All for now!

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