Achy feet plus stiff legs equals incredible day.
The first stop on our itinerary today was the
Galileo Science Museum. Having hit the streets early - earlier than museums open - Jim and I hiked along the North shore of the Arno for about a mile. South of the Arno and clinging to the hills are villas, gardens and trees. What a backdrop to this magnificent city.
The Galileo Science Museum is chock-a-block full of weird contraptions - telescopes, globes, clocks, physics experiments, etc. Jim was in heaven - gadget heaven -and I remembered why I didn't fare well in high school physics. Best of all (and not morbidly so) was Gailieo'sfinger preserved in a jar. Yup! A jar! Given Galileo's persecution by the Romsn Catholic Church for his scientific beliefs, his middle finger appears to be raised in that international F/U symbol. Have to love it!
The highlight of the day, though, was seeing Michelangelo's DAVID. Had to pinch myself to believe we were actually standing before him. David stands at 17 feet high under a remarkable dome that bathes him in sunlight. Experts say that the statue captures David sizing up Goliath. His eyes are steady - searching with internal concentration. Michelangelo has captured the precise moment at which David seems to be saying to himself, "I can take this guy!" Oh my God, this statue is inspiring. Jim and I circled David for about thirty minutes, spotting Michelangelo's genius - raised veins on his right hand and arm, his rib cage evident under taut skin, the manner in which his hand is almost fondling the stone, his tensed shoulder blades.........Leading up to David are Michelangel's "prisoners". These are unfinished figures that seem to be fighting to free themselves from their marble slabs. The struggle is palpable and I felt totally stressed.
We ate a late lunch at a little trattoria by the Duomo and watched hundreds of tourists lined up around this huge edifice. By the way, our trattoria was actually located in the birth home of Donatello.
Our next visit was to Palazzo Vecchio, home once to the Medicis and Leopoldo. We hiked up eight stories to view their magnificent residential rooms. Frescoes, paintings, and guilt ceilings abound. I had to smile, having just finished "Loving Frank" about Frank Lloyd Wright. What a contrast in architectural and decorating philosophies.
We finished with a bit of window shopping. I must say that you can actually smell leather in the air, because of all of the fine leather shops!
It was then back to our roof garden for a glass of wine and my battle with this blog, loading photos and Jim's Apple iPad!
Dinner was al fresco under the stars and Michelangelo's clock in Piazza Vecchio. Then it was back to Ponte Vecchio and a night of music.
Ah! Bella Italia - io amo!
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