End of the Trail - Ciao Italy!

Firenze Day!

For all of the times we have been to Italy and spent a day in Florence, we had never actually stayed overnight there.  This year, the best flights we could find had us actually flying out of Florence to head back to the states.  Since all of our flights were so early, we decided to head to Florence the day before and stay over night, instead of getting up way to early and driving the 45 minute trip from Greve.

Our hotel was actually just around the corner from the famous Duomo.  It made for a perfect spot as we could wander the streets of Florence and never be too far from our home base.

 

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Florence.  It was HOT, but that did not stop everyone from get out and about.  We hit some of the normal spots, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, where David used to stand before moving to the Accademia, and the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge.

It looks so quiet when you are so far away!  

An Oldy but a Goody - Lunch at Antica Osteria 1 Rosso

We stumbled across the Antica Osteria 1 Rosso the last time we were in Florence and it was good and so authentic that we had to stop by again when we were back.  Happily everything looked like we remembered from the hand written menus to the man cooking in the kitchen.

This menu has SO many good things!

The master at work.  Last time we were here Duane got a picture of him tossing pasta, today it is a quieter picture of him making noodles.

     

From the hard work in the kitchen comes the delightful dishes in front of us.  We were all happy to say that the dishes were just as good as we remembered.

Look at how cute these carafes of wine are!!  

                                  

Don't mind if I do!  Duane helps himself to a little more of the house rosso.

The streets of Florence are not quite the same as Radda... you can definitely tell you are in a more populated city.  More cars, more graffiti, and a dirtier looking road.

For as dirty as the back streets may be, the Duomo is a pretty and breathtaking

Last Supper - Ristorante Buca San Giovanni

For our very last meal together in Italy, before all of us head back home in the morning we stayed close to our hotel and close to the Duomo.  We found Ristonrante Buca San Giovanni.  You always have to be careful of places that are too close to the tourist areas, but this place was pretty good on it's prices, the waiter was fun, and the food was very good.  Also, how could anyone pass up the view of eating with the Duomo in the background???

For dinner, the majority of the table went for meat dishes.  Osso Bucco with fried potatoes.

Tari said she could get meat once back in the states, but where would she get fresh pasta???

As night falls around us, the Duomo shines under it's lights. What a perfect way to complete another fun, memorable time in Italy.  Ciao! 

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