Another scorcher of a day in Florence – already 28 C at 9am, and we have a day a light wandering and shopping planned. Aim is to get at least a jacket each 😉 .
First stop just around the corner as a parallel street has many leather shops in it. We went looking for Dana as she was after a red or blue jacket, and while they hada nice blue – it wasn’t in her size, but the owner really gave Dana the talk that while red and blue are nice and this years colours, black and browns are timeless and had a really nice brown in the same style as the blue that she was very close to taking – but undecided.
In the mean time I tried on a few jackets and found a dark brown bomber style jacket that I took. One down two to go – though Nerida’s already has a deposit on it and we just need to pay it off.
So back across town to get Nerida’s and Max the manager recognised us and grabbed the jacket, and being the consumate salesman picked out a jacket for Dana – a classic black but with a detachable hood that she fell in love with straight away. So two more jackets done – and CC somewhat poorer.
Back via some open air leather markets to have a half look at bags and a quikc rest and rehydrate from the mid thirties temperatures, then out to find lunch.
Stopped at the square in front of the Medicci palace (where the David original stood and a replica still does) and found a good cafe that served salads and lighter food. Ihad a mixed seafood carpachio, Nerida a salad with egg and cheese and tomato, and Dana had a ricotta and spinach ravioli.
We then walked across the Vecchio bridge to show Dana all the gold shops in their shiny glory – before returning for more cold water, gelato and a rest through the hottest part of the afternoon.
For dinner we had found a Sushi place just around the corner from us and went their. Food was amazing and I think we ate more than any other meal we’ve had so far on holiday, or at sushi. Ended up with a massive tower of plates. Dana even got adventurous with trying new foods – some octopus (meh), crab (OK) and eel (yum) to the point she stole a whole eel nigiri from me. All feeling pretty good for having “home style” food and lots of it, we went for a walk – down to the Vecchio bridge again which is beautiful in the setting sun. Back through the heart of Florence which is so much quieter at this time of day – where do all the tourists go ???
Off to Rome late Sunday morning – which while still hot in the mid thirties wont be the insane 38 C we have had the last few days.