Florence day 4

Uffezi day!

We got up early to go line up, since we hadn’t managed to be at the right place at the right time with the right dosh to book tickets (the hotel website says they do hotel reservations, but that’s gone the same way as the hotel wifi – open to extremely broad interpretation!) and wandered down there. There were only about 50 people in the line when we got there so we were feeling pretty optimistic, especially when they let 30-odd people through 15 mins after we’d joined the queue. However, our optimism was unfounded, as the signs had said (min wait 1 hour). Nevertheless, we managed to be part of the second 30 people though, an hour after we started. Woo! Saved the E4 booking fee.

The collection is pretty amazing, even after the debacle of the entry system. We saw the obligatory Botticellis (Birth of Venus and Primavera were the two “big” ones that certainly lived up to the expectations), a couple of da Vincis, some fabulous Raffaellos, Rossis and Carravagios. After a while T and I were getting a bit hysterical, and made up stories about the paintings. Eg Titian’s The Venus of Urbino was reduced to “the kid’s vomiting over the balcony because she’s allergic to the dog”. There was an amazing nativity that had a very buff six-packed baby. Also one that the newborn looked about to throw up (there’s a theme running through here, right?) The portraits were interesting, too. “Here’s a picture of me. With my Medal!” (that would be Bottecelli’s “Portrait of a Youth With a Medal”. I’m so not making this up!)

Unfortunately the Rubens room was shut. Boo.

Spent some more moolah in the gift shop buying postcards and David statue glasses cleaning cloths. Once again I managed to say no to the “dress me up” magnetic David and Birth of Venus kits. I think if I see them again I’ll have to though!

Outside the Uffezi there are lots of other statues, like a copy of David, and some weird satyr/nymph type creatures.

After this we had a huge lunch back at Vicchio Firenze. We were greeted like long lost family. They remembered my gf preference without me saying anything, and even brought out rice cakes with the bread – the waiter even went so far as to stop me taking some roast potatoes that someone else had ordered! How attentive! I had the penne with porcini mushies, grilled meat and gelato… yummmmmm 🙂 I think the carbonara is their best though. If we go back again I’ll definitely have that again!

Once fortified with stodge, T and I felt like a spot of shopping. I’d decided that since Fireze is famous for leather, that’s what I should be getting. After wandering around a few leather shops, nothing was reaaally grabbing me. We went back down to the markets near San Marco to see if there was anything new down there.

I was eventually persuaded that I needed a new 3/4 leather coat (this one is black soft leather with brown rubbed seams) and we talked him down from the marked price (heh!) of 500E, to 125E. I was also looking at bags and wallets etc, so we kept wandering. Noone else seemed really prepared to haggle, which seems strange for markets! I found Mum another pressie though, so it was definitely a worthwhle trip.

It’s now raining a bit, which is a nice change, but quite sticky and humid. At least I got some use for my long-sleeved tshirts today, as they’ve been very unloved so far since it’s been so warm!