Hangin' with Big Dave...

Florence, Italy

October 5 & 6, 2007
N43°46.653
E011°15.603

The Euro being at an all time high against the US Greenback isn’t keeping the Americans out of Italy! Every seat on the train from Venice to Florence was full, luggage everywhere and almost everyone was speaking English.

In fact, there was one pompous gasbag, who by Randy’s estimation didn’t shut up for more than 16 seconds the entire trip. The buffoon spoke incessantly, an expert on everything from world politics to bouillabaisse. When not babbling he hummed loud enough for everyone to enjoy, attempting to fill the void throughout the entire three hour train ride.

When the train stopped in Florence, the station was teeming with tourists. Pat, Randy, Marc and I briefly walked around the station to get our bearings and decided to grab a bus to our accommodation. We jumped on the 14C, a local bus, with our gear and headed in the opposite direction of our hotel, towards the suburbs of Florence, before we realized our mistake.

After a 25 minute tour of the Florence ‘burbs we got off the bus, crossed the street, and jumped on the 14A; now headed back towards the train station and the center of the city. After riding the bus for another 35 minutes we realized we went beyond our destination and jumped back off at the next stop. After asking for directions from a nice Italian gentleman, who obviously felt sorry for us, we realized we were about half a mile from our hotel. We opted to walk for it instead of enduring another bus. Needless to say, we were all exhausted, in need of some water and a glass of wine.

After we decompressed for a couple hours and polished off a bottle of fine Chianti, we headed out to explore the city of Florence. We decided to grab dinner at the recommended Osteria de Benci where I ordered the famous Bistecca alla Fiorentina. The tasty porterhouse steak was cooked perfectly, topped with arugula and shaved parmigiano cheese. Even though the cut of beef was succulent and tender, Argentina beef still holds the honor as best beef in the world.

Although it was a Friday night and the city was electric, we headed back to our room early to prepare ourselves for a day of exploring the streets of Florence and the Galleria dell’Accademia, where Michelangelo’s David is housed.

We didn’t really know what to expect from David, but as soon as we turned the corner in the museum we were instantly in awe over the size and artistic quality of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The 17 ft. sculpture is the centerpiece of the museum and can be seen at almost any angle. The dome above the statue, combined with the strategically placed lighting, illuminates every curve, vein and muscle in the perfectly chiseled single piece of white marble.

It’s rumored that 30 people a day, supposedly Americans, pass out from the feelings that overwhelm them when they see the awesome sculpture. This is probably some type of urban legend, or an Italian superiority complex, who knows, but it gave us a good laugh at the end of the incredible experience. No, we didn’t see anyone pass out.

After we hung out with the Big Dave for a few hours we were all a little famished and headed to the local market. I loved the market, with all of the oils, proscuitto, olives, bread and mushrooms—it was like fifty Molinaris all under the same roof-- a food mecca.

As the market closed down for siesta, we took our goodies and headed back to our apartment after an accomplished day of sightseeing in Florence.

By the way… did you know Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provencal fish stew originating from the port city of Marseille? The French and English form bouillabaisse comes from the Provencal Occitan word bolhabaissa, a compound that consists of the two verbs bolhir (to boil) and abaissar (to reduce).