Florence - June 2

I arrived in Florence from Milan by train and decided to walk the 2 km to the Airbnb.  A good reminder of why I am packing so much lighter next year!!!

The walk was challenging, both because of the heft of my suitcase over the cobblestone streets and the hot day, but full of so much to look at with both the architecture AND the shopping! :)  I am in awe by this beautiful city!  I am reading Isaacson's biography of Leonardo Davinci at the moment and happen to be at the part where Leonardo just arrived in Florence as a young man to live with his father.  The history of this city and the impact it has had on the world is hard to comprehend!  We will all do our best though this next week.

The Airbnb is in a perfect location, just a short walk from the Duomo with numerous cafes at the doorstep.

Lunch 5 feet from the door where I enjoyed a salad and waited for the property owners to arrive.

Corey and the kids arrived around 3.  My heart is again complete!  We headed out straight away to begin our gelato assessment to determine best gelato of Florence.  Stay tuned... We also picked up some groceries.

Next up, we rested a bit and go unpacked.  This Airbnb is quite spacious, so each of us has our own room...as will Uncle Troy and Carolyn when they arrive.  Of course despite the big to-do with picking out the room - here's where the kids slept...  but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The girls enjoy plums on patio in the middle of the house.

After relaxing a bit, we ventured out for Corey's birthday dinner at Bistro del Mare.

 Salt crusted bream.

 The girls "helping" de-bone the fish.

Such a beautiful night full of so much life!

 We are THOSE PEOPLE that keep the street vendors in business.  Three whirly things for 5E is not a bad price though, even if they last just the night.

 Of course the symphony was playing a concert outdoors!  Unreal.

 Caden perfected the "hat trick" where he catches his whirly in his hat.

We picked up profiteroles and headed home to sing happy birthday in both English and Italian :)

I let the kids watch a show before bed to keep them up a little later in an attempt to get them on the right time zone.  I thought it was cute how they all huddled in the spiral stairs.