Our Day in Florence
Well I’m already back from our September 2016 Tour Italy and now
I am catching up the blogs – only because we had such a great trip and packed
so much in. Each trip gets better and better and this one topped the charts.
Our 14th trip and what a journey and experience it was.
First and foremost, I want to thank my Associate, Evelyn Jung,
who puts this trip together each year. WOW what a fabulous itinerary featuring
a number of new venues and experiences. Second, I want to thank all of my
September 2016 travelers – you were fantastic! The friendships and bond we
created over the course of these 14 days will last a lifetime. I love how
everyone already is organizing get togethers…..that’s more of what this trip is
about than just the travel.
So I will catch the blogs up as we go through the next few
weeks. I think my travelers will enjoy this format better anyway as it will
give them a chance to relive the adventure.
A Day in Florence
So we departed on Wednesday and arrived on Thursday and finished
that long day with the fabulous meal on the terrace at the Villa la Vendetta.
Not a bad start and as it turned out that evening was one of the favorites of
my travelers during the trip.
With a good night sleep – our first in Italy – at the Hotel
Brunelleschi, we were up early the next morning to go on my morning walk. I
love starting my tour with this walk as it gives my travelers a great little
lesson for all of their trips to come – a morning walk before all the tourists
arrive gives you the opportunity to virtually own the city and see it in a
still, calm and quiet light. It gives you a chance to experience a busy place
one-on-one. I love it and I had a big group and we explored quite a bit of the
city from the Duomo, to the San Lorenzo Market, to the Santa Maria Novella
church to the Arno River and the St. Regis Grand Hotel and the Westin Excelsior
Hotels…which we would revisit at the end of the day…..the Ponte Vecchio, the
Uffizi and the Palazzo Vecchio. Great way to start the day.
Then it was off to the hotel for a nice breakfast and then I
debated – nap or climb Giotto’s Bell Tower at the Duomo…..well my
travelers….namely Jim Steg – convinced me to keep going and climb the tower,
which we did and which I always enjoy. What a spectacular view of the city of
Florence.
Now – I was able to go back and snag a power nap with Isabel!!!
Definitely another key to travel – get those power naps in and hydrate!!!
With the power nap done it was pizza time and so off we went to
the San Lorenzo Market and the new Mario Batali Eataly http://www.eataly.net/it_en/shops/florence/ up on
the second floor. Ok this was the second Eataly I had now been to in a month –
the one at the World Trade Center in New York and now this one in Florence!
Yes, I am a Mario Batali fan! I just love the sounds and smells of this place. We
enjoyed a delicious pizza and a cold beer and then we did some more shopping
and exploring of Florence. While the ladies shopped I enjoyed the sights and
sounds of the street. 
With a second power nap in it was time for cocktails at the
hotel bar and then a fabulous dinner on the street at the Buca San Giovanni
Ristorante http://www.bucasangiovanni.it right in
front of the Duomo. Anyone who has been on my trip knows what a special and fun
evening this is. From the lavish pomp and circumstance of the dinner the first
night we relax and unwind with dinner on the street the second night…..again I
love experiencing and exposing my travelers to the contrasts here in Italy. The
food and atmosphere were fantastic and I was able to silence the street and get
a nice applause for some of my opera signing! Finsih things off with a little
limoncello, grappa and a cigar - What fun!!!
From there we walked across town to the Arno River and back to
the Westin Excelsior rooftop bar where we enjoyed a night cap, fun stories, and
laughter under the star filled sky of Florence.
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