Travel-Lens

Day 5

 

July 25, 2009

 

            Still in Firenze but leaving in the morning for Venice. We had a short, relaxing but productive day today.  We awoke late, allowing Wolfie to sleep in awhile.  I like to see the differences from person to person as to how they react and deal with the new mode of life through travel.  This allows me to change my way of seeing and doing things to accommodate to those with me.  Wolfie has done well for his age and this being his first time abroad.  He wanted to eat at his “favorite” pizza place, so we headed over there and had a seat outside just near the open leather market, the Mercado Nuovo.  Merchants have been selling there since 1547 and near it happens to be the Il Porcellino, the little pig that if you rub his snout, will bring good luck. We could see the venders and their potential customers as we ate.  We talked about the cooler day that was among us than other days. We had a great lunch and refueled for a relaxing day around Firenze. 

After lunch we strolled through the other leather market and purchased a few more items for those back home and us as well.  Wolfie wanted a belt with those metal studs all over it.  He likes it. Each region of Italy is known for something in particular and Firenze happens to be versed in Leather, so much so that they have leather schools.  In-fact, the first inhabitants of the Ponte Vecchio were the leather tanners of Firenze.  There are other leather merchants in town but regardless of what I heard an American woman say tonight as I walked by her attempting to inform her friends; this is the largest leather market in town and where you will get the best deals.

            I had never been inside the Pallazzo Vecchio so I decided to see if it were even necessary for clients in the future to be told about it. The Pallazzo Vecchio was once the town hall but later became the private home of the Duke of Firenze as well.  The grand apartments upstairs housed the politicians while were working as city council members, such opulence. We headed over right after lunch and got in a fairly short line only to be let in through another non-operational metal detector one at a time.  So our short line seemed like there hundreds of people where in front of us.  This did however make for a thinner crowd once inside. A must see for those who are interested on the city’s history.

            Well, an uneventful day just taking in a few sights, enjoying the town and the cool breezes.  We collected a few sandwiches and water before heading back to our apartment and had a nap.  Packed our necessities and now getting ready to retire, only to get up early o board that train to beautiful Venice.