Florence & Pisa

We had only a day and a half here. We had pre-booked tickets at the Uffizi gallery and the Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David is the draw card here). This turned out to be an excellent idea as on both occasions we believe it saved us at least an hour in queues. When we had such a short time in Florence it was good to not feel it was being wasted.

The Uffizi galleries were outstanding to all of us. Highlights being works by Michelangelo, Botticelli (birth of venus and many others) and many others we cant seem to recall in the 15 mins we have here now before the place closes. We spent well 2 hrs here and loved it all. Even enjoyed a coffee break on a terrace overlooking the city.

David... what can we say but... unbelievable!! The details down to the veins in his arms and hands etc... so beautifully done. The other work in this gallery was minimal. Some plaster sculpting models used in the schools centuries ago. There were also blocks of marble where they had started some statues but not finished. So interesting to see these different stages of how the work is done.

Mark and kids very keen to go to Pisa so we left Florence early in the morn and headed off on the train for a 1 hr 20 min trip to Pisa with the only real purpose being to see the leaning tower. We only planned to spend 3 - 4 hrs there. I was not initially keen but am pleased I went the actual tower was really lovely. It is interesting to see how they have righted the lean a little and how the top 2 floors of the building are not leaning as much so as to counterbalance it. We saw hiding behind a house some very large weighted anchors which obviously go underground via cables back to the tower to hold it from falling.

Pisa was otherwise a very stylish and pretty town. Tastes of Florence and Rome combined in the architecture and river scene. Very stylish people too.

Thats all we have time for, for now... sorry we had planned to do more but they are about to close on us.

Love to all x