Firenze

Today was a crowded day in Florence. Luckily Mr. Organized had already secured reservations for us to see the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia where we saw that great big hunk of man in all his glory: David. After our first tour and a huge lunch of delicious pizzas (we each ordered our own because you never know what size they will be) These pizzas turned out to be huge. Nevertheless, Bob and kelly went to get gelati (we have a minimum daily requirement of at least 2 gelatis a day a piece. While they were getting the dessert I headed into the street market that I had read had the best haggling for prices. After spending some time there I wandered into a big building that is a marketplace. On the first floor were stalls with fresh meat, cheese, wine and fish. There were whole geese with their heads with feathers still on, huge sides of meat, monstrous pieces of tripe. On the second floor was all fresh fruit and vegies. I've never seen so many different kinds of mushrooms - you could smell them as you walked by. It was a mass of humanity and a lot of fun. I guess the locals all come there on Saturdays to get their fresh foods. And of course there were many stalls where people were just standing around drinking coffee. In the evening we headed to McDonald's for dinner because Bob could not face prosciutto one more time. As we walked around town we noticed more and more of the street vendors who , at the sight of a policecar, scatter like cockroaches. They wrap up their "designer" purses and fold up cardboard displays of "designer" sunglasses and flee from the police. Then, as soon as the police are down the street, they emerge from who knows where. it is a constant game of cat and mouse all evening. We also were treated to a street parade through town. The Guiseppe Verde Filomonica de Ligne was made up of men and boys of all ages, and their daughters were majorettes who twirled batons. The band started playing and marched through town and their family members and spectators marched along. It was a real treat. Tomorrow we leave for Sienna. Apparently mapquest says that even though it is just an hour away - it involves about 60 steps.