4/5 Florence, shopping, The David then Venice

A really busy day that went wonderfully.  We started with breakfast in our palatial hotel.  Then we walked along the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio window shopping as we went.  B found a very pretty delicate necklace which we bought.  As we walked by the much more expensive shops on the bridge, we agreed that we didn’t see anything we liked better.  Then I bought a card wallet that I liked better than the one I have.  At another leather shop B found a purse she really liked.  (We also passed a gelato shop with the best display)

We headed for a major market that was near where our tour was to meet.  We stopped at a toilet which was being cleaned by a woman who was not going to let anyone in until it was spotless- a good thing and a bad thing when there was a line of people who needed to go.  Walked through the market and on to our tour.  

The only reason anyone was as taking the tour was to see the David, but to make it seem like you were getting your money’s worth the guide had to show you more stuff in the museum.  Since we seemed to be behind schedule, I told the guide that we had to leave by 2 to catch a train.  David is the last thing on the tour, but we saw it and left by way of the shop where we bought a tiny David.  We scurried back to the hotel, stopped at the concierge to have them get us a taxi and bellhop for the luggage, and were on to the train station by 2:30.  Had time for a gelato before our train was called.  

I was more relaxed this time because I knew the system and that we would have enough time to get on and settled.  We were lucky and had seats facing each other and empty seats next to us.

At Venice, the info desk told us that the best way of getting to our hotel was by walking.  He neglected to say that the bridge we had to cross had many steps going up and down.  We ended up hiring a porter with a cart who loaded up our 4 pieces and walked us to the hotel.  This is nice and modern, but the smallest of our accommodations.  A big come down after last night.  

They made a reservation at Osteria Ae Cravate and we were very pleased.  We shared the frittata mista and then I had carbonara and B had lasagna.  For dessert we shared a lava cake and the house version of creme brûlée.  It was touted by a man two tables away who gave a taste to the women at the table next to him. They weren’t planning on having dessert but changed their minds.  It was delicious and we all decided that the secret ingredient was the alcohol that they flamed it with. 

Now, back in our room digesting.