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Lance McKay | profile | all galleries >> Edelweiss Bike Tour of Tuscany >> Florence Day 4 & 5 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Florence Day 4 & 5

Day 4
We found ourselves in Florence checking into the hotel and then caught a taxi to the BMW dealer to look for a new System IV helmet. Arriving at the dealership around 1:30 PM, but it was closed for lunch till 3:00 PM. I walked around the block, stopping in a café for lunch. It was a local’s only place, and nobody spoke English, so I pointed at this and that, ending up with one tomato and cheese sandwich and a bottle of water. When the dealership reopened I looked at the apparel and helmets, I couldn’t find the right size in the color I wanted and was about to head out the door when someone asked if we needed any help. I mentioned that I had e-mailed them a couple of weeks prior asking if they could get a specific color and size, but they never responded back. The clerk immediately said “Oh yes, it is waiting for you in the back”

I was still exhausted the time spent in France with Marco and decided to have an early night. I set out to a restaurant recommended by the hotel, but it was closed. I didn’t know that most people eat late and that nothing would be open around 5:00PM. Walking towards what I thought was the city center looking for a place that was open. After a 1 ½ miles without any luck, I found a map and it seems I had been heading in the wrong direction. Giving up I started to head back to the hotel. On the way I stopped by a bakery to get bread and a couple slices of pizza, then stopped by a grocery store and picked up some drinks. Picnicking on the bed in the hotel room with stinky French cheese, called it a night and went to bed. Needless to say no pictures were taken on this day.

Day 5:
I ran into Neal and Gerry in the dining room for breakfast. Seems they had run into the Olin’s and gone to dinner with them the night before. The Olin’s had tried calling my room and knocking on the door, but I never heard them, too tired to respond. Imet up with the Olin’s later that morning and went to see the Duomo of Florence, shop in the market and went to the Galleria Del Accademia to see Michel Angelo’s David. Later that evening we ran into Neal & Gerry again who were going to meet us for dinner, while waiting the Olin’s and us sat at a café having some cocktails, then moved to a delicatessen to have bottled Italian beer & wine. Neal joined us and we were off to dinner. We met Gerry who was eating dinner at the restaurant and invited him to join us. Unfortunately the wine flowed too freely and I had to visit the sidewalk to cleanse my system of alcohol, barely missing my shoes, and missing out on the Grappa being served inside.
Tomb in the catacombs below the Duomo
Tomb in the catacombs below the Duomo		 View from the delicatessen before dinner
View from the delicatessen before dinner		 Ceiling of the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Ceiling of the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s		 Inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s		 Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s		 Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s		 Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s
Tomb inside the Duomo, courtesy of the Olin’s		 delicatessen before dinner, courtesy of the Olin’s
delicatessen before dinner, courtesy of the Olin’s		 Nope, I'm OK (courtesy of the Olin’s)
Nope, I'm OK (courtesy of the Olin’s)		 Amy & Gerry, courtesy of the Olin’s
Amy & Gerry, courtesy of the Olin’s

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