After breakfast we began a three-hour stroll along some unexplored streets of Florence. We stopped at the old Santa Maria Novella Perfumery which started centuries ago as the monks' herb garden. We enjoyed window shopping and some actual shopping when we happened onto a delightful little leather goods shop. The Ferragamo Shoe Museum was interesting where we saw hundreds of shoes on display made by the "shoemaker to the stars" - Marilyn Monroe's, Audrey Hepburn's, Nicole Kidman's, etc. Lindsey and Libet wandered off to another Italian cooking class - this time to learn the art of making pasta! The rest of us crossed the picture perfect Arno River and walked up to the Pitti Palace for a look at the Medici family's really ugly (on the outside) homestead from the 15th century. We ate another homecooked meal in the courtyard at LaContessina this evening followed by another stroll to see Florence by night.
I HAVE SET UP A NEW PHOTOBLOG SITE FOR THE 2014 TOURS. YOU CAN STILL SEE PHOTOS FROM 2008 TO 2013 HERE. TO VIEW THE LATEST TOURS GO TO: WWW.INTUSCANYWITHPATRIZIA.BLOGSPOT.COM
Taking A Day Off!
About 5:30 this morning a taxi picked up Jane, Phyllis, Maxine and Carolyn for thier trip to the airport and onward through Paris and Amsterdam to the USA. Their smiling faces will be missed! The rest of us spent a lazy day sleeping, shopping and catching up on "homework". We toured the mercardo centrale where the locals and tourists alike fill their shopping bags with all sorts of delicious things to eat. More shopping in the afternoon produced Christmas ornaments, luggage, ceramics and tiles, jewelry and other treasures to take back home. All in all a relaxing day after our week of intense touring.