Bye Florence

Yesterday we woke up and went on a tour of Florence. We went up to where all the old villas are on the hills and to the Piazza Del Michaelangelo. It was raining, but it was still gorgeous. In the spring you can see all the different colors of green before they all lend together in the summer time. It was cool to get a different perspective of Florence and hear more of the history from the tour guide. He asked me if I was a resident..best compliment ever. I learned that one of the Midici's fortresses had cannons facing the people of the city..weird right? I also learned that the Pointe Vecchio has a tunnel from the Uffizi to the Piti Palace. This morning my dad and I got up and climbed up to the top of the Duomo. It was so so so neat. I couldn't think of a better way to say bye to this incredible city than by being able to see every bit of it from a birds eye view. It was gorgeous. I love this city so much! I am so sad that I have to leave. I'm making a point to be back soon. Today we are heading to Venice and then home tomorrow. I could cry. 

The hillside. You can see the Medici villa.

One of the old walls that lined the city.

Piazza de Michaelangelo.

The Duomo.

I asked for ice at dinner. That's service.

Pointe Vecchio.

Grandma and I match!

View from Pointe Vecchio.

Pointe Vecchio.

I got a gorgeous black and white water color from this cute artist.
I'm so excited!

463 steps!

Statues inside the Duomo.

Closer view.

The frescos are huge when you get so close.

View from the top of the Duomo.

Old/restored tools they used to make the dome.

If I Was a Bird I Would Live in Le Cinque Terre

On Friday the crew headed to La Spezia and stayed the night so we could head to Le Cinque Terre on Saturday (about a 7 minute train ride).  Oh how I love the Cinque Terre! I wish I could live there. We started in Rio Maggiore where my dad and I got to Kayak in the Mediterranean over to Manarola and back. It was SO FUN! The water was so gorgeous, I couldn't believe how clear it is. It was in the morning, so there was still a mystical fog on top of the lush green, grape-vine lined, mountains. The best way to see the Cinque Terre is definitely by kayak. We spent some time in the little marina in Manarola just looking at the little town-I wanted to stare at it forever. After my dad and I got back to Rio Maggiore we all went to Manarola by train and spent some time there. Grandma stayed at the bottom while my mom, dad, Rene and I did a little vineyard hike that overlooked all of Manarola-it was an incredible sight. I sunbathed for a little while in Manarola too. I wanted to stay forever. Then we headed to Florence, where we are now. My dad caught a gypsy pick-pocketing him on the train (I'll save that for another post, freaking gypsies) and we met the nicest couple from India. Today we went to church here in Florence. The branch here is so kind. There was so much kindness and love in that building. I'm moving here. I love Utah, but really the church in other countries is so amazing to see. The gospel is obviously the same, but the people are so different. The branches here are like family. 

La Spezia

Crepes in Rio Maggiore.

Grandma drank all that.

Packed train.

Marnarola from the old cemetery. 

Manarola is my favorite!

Grapevines, of course!

The water is SO CLEAR!

At church today.