414 more stairs, double gelato, comparisons, Han Soloed and Stratchianutella: Firenze

We woke up and got ready to go to the Duomo and walk up the stairs of the bell tower. We weren't going to do the climb but then Neil wanted to and Isla said she was going so we went. I would have been ok skipping it after yesterday because you're not getting higher than the Dome - but here we are - close to 2000 stairs - and probably higher with the in and out of the apartment. The views were beautiful as always and you guessed it - Malcolm and Isla were touching and bickering for most of it. I swear that they have magnets in their shirts - it doesn't matter what you do, they always find each other.

We stopped at all the spots - and I feel like this climb was easier than the Dome - it was more tight, probably more people.

Afterwards, we got tickets for Santa Croce, once they had run through, Jess and the little ones headed home and Neil and I stayed to see more of it. It was the first time he was kind of awed by the inside. He liked that there was art everywhere, he liked the size of it and he enjoyed that there were famous people who were buried there. He thought that was cool. He noted the Star of David at the top and it was put there by one of the architects I believe (obviously, he was Jewish).

Dante and 2/3rds....

Niccolo Machiavelli....

Michelangelo....

Neil venturing off on his own.

Charlotte Bonaparte

In the Medici Chapel...

Paintings from the Medici Chapel

The cloisters. I totally forgot about these cloisters that are part of the church - so this was a nice little surprise. Cloisters are one of my favorite places to visit.

Made by Donatello.

We came back and ate lunch. There was much complaining by Duncan who did not want the PB and J that Jess had made. Neil and I scarfed ours down.

Our plan was to squeeze in the remaining things that we had not done after lunch - were supposed to see the Duomo, the underground part Santa Reparata, and David and Academia at 5:15 and then also walk across Ponte Vecchio which we have not done yet. Then we have to clean up and get ready for the train to Rome tomorrow at 9 am. Not sure how all of this is going to get done in the time that we have and in 94 degree heat but, here we go.

Went to the Duomo and waited on the long ass line. And to be fair, the line was moving well, when we got to the front, the sun was blaring and they halted the line and let a ton of people out but not in. We waited a good 20 minutes just near the front. Jess saw a hack online that said you could use your tickets for the Reparata and then go into the Duomo from there to avoid the long lines. She asked the woman working who blew her off and said what she wanted to say - so we waited and headed inside. It was by design that the outside was so ornate and the inside somewhat sparse to keep the worshipers focused on God. This was a negative for Neil. He likes when there is art everywhere. He loved the outside of the Duomo - but the inside of Santa Croce.

The fresco from the Dome visit yesterday was in view - it is the largest fresco in the world and depicts hell, heaven and the resurrection.

So they did not tell us that we could enter the Reparata while we were already in the Duomo. We ended up going outside in the blazing heat for another half an hour to wait on line. I had a feeling that we could have just gone down but we did what was the "right" thing. Jess spoke to some dude and started to let him have it because they wouldn't let us back in.

The location was once a pagan temple and then the earliest Christian site in the area. I always wonder just how far they can continue to excavate and find things - layer on top of layer.

As we walked around and came to some of the covers for people's graves, Duncan astutely noted, "Oh man, look, Dad, they got Han Soloed." And he was right with the reliefs that were on some of them, they looked caught in action just like poor Han.

When we were done we headed over to Academia after the afternoon gelato.

Academia. David was a big hit. I mean who doesn't love balls, penises and any other potential nakedness like buttchucks.

Michelangelo's Prisoners - works he started but never completed.

San Lorenzo.

Jess left early with the other three because Duncan wanted to get to the market and find a leather journal - orange. When we went to find them, somehow I hit the wrong thing on maps and it took us back to the apartment. They were waiting and then came home. I made dinner and after doing some packing and organizing, we headed to Ponte Vecchio, and that stroll led to evening gelato and Malcolm's new flavor Stratchianutella.