i am back in puente verde. i have officially killed my cell phone battery trying to convert to 220 volts overseas so cannot make any calls tonight but can hopefully rectify the situation tomorrow and will talk to you soon. i'm exhausted as it's 4am or so italy time, so i'm turning in. buona sera!
love, a

Hi All and Happy Birthday Rachel!
I am leaving Florence for the airport in Bologna in a few hours.
It has been a great few days. Will have to write more when I get back, but absolutely loved seeing Danny and Florence and Siena have been a thrill and a wonderful end to these last weeks.
The weather could not have been more beautiful, and luckily we got into the Uffizi with the help of an Italian friend of Danny's family. Especially loved the Botticelli room. We ended up at Il Latini again, and even sat at the same table. What are the odds? Then again, this trip has been full of coincidences and lovely surprises (for the most part). Caught the big dinner celebration for the district in Siena that won the Palio (horse race around the center square)....exactly the way it was in the movie I saw on the airplane over. I loved Siena and have many pictures to download and share later. Unfortunately Danny was a bit sick after a lunch of delights from the local Florence marketplace, but she was feeling better and gained her appetite back by last night, in time for a final cappuccino and brioche this morning before heading back to the airport. It all went by way too quickly. She says hi to everyone.
Talk to you when I get back!
xoxoA

Good morning. It's early and I'm writing while Danny gets ready so that we can go stand in the queue for the Accademia. First we will head to the market and pick up some things for breakfast to eat while we stand in line and for the bus trip to Siena. The produce here has been delicious, especially the plums and pears.
We climbed the steps (all 400+) of the Campanile yesterday, despite my fear of heights. It had to be done and was so worth it once we got up there as the view was amazing, the weather incredible, and we were able to get the lay of the land first off.
Went to Boboli Gardens, just in case it rains the rest of the weekend, had amazing gelati (Florence has been the best for that so far) for lunch over the Pnte Vecchio, and ended up at Il Latini for dinner, suggested by Connie and obviously known and loved by everyone else given the size of the line to get in. The staff served wine and cheese to those waiting outside in line, which was almost enough for dinner in and of itself.
*Hesitantly* we had the most unkosher Yom Kippur ever, with about 30 hams hanging over our heads while we chowed down on plates of (amazing, I might add) proscuito and parmesan. Luckily--rather than sitting next to other tourists--we had the plasure of Joseph and Francesco's company, two Florentines who ended up feeding us from their plates all evening, and shared stories of designing shoes for Ferragamo and hanging out with Calvin Klein and Andy Warhol at Studio 54.
Off for the day...
xo

Danny's here! Later...

Hi there!
It's a beautiful day in Florence and Danny should be here any minute. The hotel we are staying at has internet access...a relief from having to pay each time I want to log on.
Had a very delicious dinner last night, and then an Italian couple sitting nearby invited me to have ice cream with them. Giovanni and Daniella. She's an anethesiologist, he's a pediatrician. I had such a nice time walking the city with very nice people and the best gelati I've had yet (pistachio and coffee crunch in case you wanted to know). Can't wait to hit all the places that Connie has recommended (thanks again Connie!) and take in all the sites. Looking very forward to our stay over in Siena as well. Did I mention I watched a film about Siena on my flight to Amsterdam?
We are staying right down the street from the Duomo, so it should be easy to find our way back from anywhere in the city. Of course, after Venice, anything has to be easier!
I'm taking many more pictures and lots of small videos as well. Hope to put together a little 'movie' of my trip when I get back. (Neal, I may need your expertise.)
I'll check in later since the computer is right here. Right now I have to go leave some sticky notes for Daniella Gordonzo at the front door and up the stairs, as this place was not the easiest to find.
Love to you all, Aliza