Our ten day travel was a great time and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.  It rained our last day and half in Florence, but otherwise the weather was absolutely amazing.  We really enjoyed our time in Florence, as we had Anna and Luca as our personal guides.  We ate a lot better then we did in Rome that is for sure.  On our last night there we enjoyed dinner at a tiny wine bar that had only seven tables and very knowledgeable servers.  The wine was delicious and the food was even better.  We started with charcuterie and I had a delicious pumpkin ravioli for dinner, followed by the most amazing chocolate cake that I have ever had.  I am not a big chocolate fan (unless we are talking hot chocolate), let alone chocolate cake, but I let the waiter talk me into it and thank goodness that I did.  I couldn’t eat it fast enough, but tried to slow myself down so that I could enjoy it. 

While in Florence we experienced some breathtaking views of the city as we climbed the steps to San Miniato Church near Piazzale Michelangelo.  I was so proud of Nick as he hopped all the way up as well, and that was not an easy task.  The church was open when we got up there and the students were advised that they should do some sketching outside, so I slipped inside and was surprised to hear an organist playing.  It was such an eery, but wonderful experience, as the church was not lit except for candles.  Afterwards I took a walk around the graveyard, while not my ideal afternoon, it was nice to get awhile for awhile and have some quiet time.  As well, it was neat to experience something much different, as these were nothing like I have seen in the US. 

One evening on the way back to the hotel Luca took Nick and I to have what he called the best hot chocolate in the world, and I think that after experiencing it, I have to agree.  It was delicious, while pricey and I am not sure that my wallet could afford regular trips, it was a wonderful experience and I look forward to returning for another cup in the spring. 

While I enjoyed Rome, I think that Florence might have won for my favorite city during this trip.  Maybe because our pace in Florence was a little slower, or the fact that Anna and Luca took us to some amazing places to eat, or the fact that I was able to see some amazing masterpieces by Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Rafael – my nephew Blake would be so impressed that I visited all the turtles – lol!

On our last afternoon in Florence the weather wasn’t the greatest and the students were let loose for some free time before boarding our train back to Genova, so we took advantage of the time and visited the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, it was a nice treat to get away of the usual art that we had been experiencing and see some fashion.  While I am not sure that Luca and Nick were as impressed as Anna and I were, it was something different and I enjoyed it.