Thursday and Friday!

Starting with Thursday night.

My dad arrived Thursday night around 9:15, after walking to his hotel (yes, we walk EVERYWHERE- speaking of, I have only been in a car three times in the last four weeks, two of which happened this weekend) we went out for some good eats! Although I don’t have any pictures, this was my favorite meal of the whole weekend, and the best I have had in Florence!  We had a five-course pasta sampler followed by chicken curry for me, and fresh (raw) fish for my dad!  Then we of course finished the night with tiramisu! I mean what else would you expect in Italy?  This meal ended pretty late, so afterwards we headed home. 

Friday morning I met my dad at the hotel and had a delicious breakfast!  Muesli with yogurt and peaches, accompanied by a cappuccino (number 1 and 2).  Afterwards we put on our comfortable shoes and climbed to the top of the Duomo!  I forget the exact number but somewhere around 450 steps to the top.  Think about it this way- if it’s 25 steps to the second floor of a building we walked up 18 floors.  It was sooo worth it.  It was truly a great way to start out the day.

Inside of my favorite room in the Palazzo Vecchio. 

After that we walked through the famous leather market, and then of course the central market!  One of my favorite parts of Florence!  I then went on to take my dad to see my schools campus, and to News Cafe to have cappuccino number 3 and 4.  Once we refilled on caffiene we walked through the Palazzo Vecchio, it was so beautiful!  I found it really interesting because in most of the rooms the walls were bare and white washed, but the ceilings were magnificent!  We then made our way across the Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge that is full of jewelry!

The famous Ponte Vecchio!

We then had lunch at Mama Gina where we enjoyed some delicious ribollita!  A tuscan specialty! Of course followed by espresso number 5 and 6.  After lunch we walked around, did a little shopping, and just hung around the city.  We had dinner at a place called yellow, went out for some gelato and called it a night!  Overall we had a great day in Florence.

And for today I am making chicken noodle soup for dinner.  (Mom I didn't even use a recipe, and it's completely homemade, plus it's my first time to make it!)  All of my roommates are sitting in the kitchen drooling over the lovely aroma filling the air.  I just might have to share! 

Have a great day friends and family! 

I miss y'all! 

Ellen