Firenze: Day 2-The best weekend so far cont.

The next day began with a shower smack dab in the middle of our small bathroom and then breakfast at our hotel. We met up at the Galleria Dell'Accademia for our appointment to see the artwork and especially David by Michelangelo. This is the second time I have seen David but the statue is still stunning if not more so then the first time. It is a piece of art that you can stop looking at and even after you walk away you just want to turn around and look at it again and again. In addition to the other paintings, we saw the preliminary sculpture for The rape of the Sabines by Giambologna. There was also an exhibit on old musical instruments that was very impressive.

Next we went SHOPPING. Well Jen went shopping and Allison, Brandon and I just went along for the ride as she bought a purse and a pair of shoes. Following the shopping spree Allison, Jen and I ("Charlie's/Jason's angels") just walked and walked and walked across town taking it all in. We saw amazing street artist painters and we saw where Michelangelo was born en route to the Vivoli Gelateria for our gelato lunch. And I REALLY ate a cup of yummy gelato for lunch.

We were going to go into the Duome but the line was too long and since Allison and I had been inside before Jen decided she would go on her own later.

Pics in front of the fake David and we went into the Palazzo Vecchio. It used to be one of the residences of the Medici's.

We walked accross the Ponte Vecchio looked at the cute shops and took a lot of pictures. It was so nice to look through the stores and then see the amazing landscape as a backdrop. It didn't even look real.

We then walked to the Palazzo Pitti that housed the costume museum Jen wanted to see. Allison and I decided to take pictures around the beautiful piazza and then to have our own shopping spree.

Prior to shopping we of course wanted some wine so we went to a small wine bar across from the museum with a really helpful bartender who helped us pick out a great (and affordable) bottle of chianti called Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina. It was yummy. We sat outside and just talked and talked about our lives and our impression of our amazing return visit to Firenze.

Then off to shopping. We first went into a really posh store where we were treated so well by the woman who worked there who knew that we couldn't afford to pay for a button off any of their clothes. She continued to show us various purses (yellow snake skin clutches etc.), their catalog and she was just so charming. Before leaving I told her straight up that due to her welcoming attitude and their beautiful clothing that it was a type of store I would definitely return to when I have made it as a painter and can afford it. :) She gave me her card and sent us off with a sincere smile. Good times.

We did get to a store that I could afford where I bought 2 dresses that didn't break my bank.

So finally back to the story about the guy who said he liked my hair. Allison and I sped walked back to the store we saw on our first day just to find out it was closed. Funny thing is that we weren't the only one's peering into it wishing it was open. There was also an Italian woman standing outside staring in wishing it was open.

Since there was no hope we went into the hip store that the guy had been in the previous day. He was so nice and ended up being the designer and owner of the store. His name is Tarek and he is an Egyptian born and raised in Florence. The beginning of our conversation was completely in Italian but it turns out he speaks perfect English and has family in Berkeley and goes there 3 times a year. We bonded over art and galleries in SF like the Upper Playground where he knows everyone who works there. He showed us around his store and amazed us with his awesome talents and skills in so many areas…. Textiles, design, business etc.

We really bonded with him while he gave us personal treatment as we tried on clothes. I ended up not buying anything, but he surprised me by giving me one of his t-shirts with his clothing label on it. (PICTURE TO COME.) It was an amazing experience and as far as I am concerned the beginning of a great friendship with a fellow artist.

I also was able to get to know his Australian born Italian assistant named Piero who ironically just started working there a week prior because he came into the store, after not being able to get money from the ATM across the street (because he didn't have any money) and spontaneously asked for a job and Tarek gave him one on the spot and Piero started working immediately. He is a graffiti artist and also a great guy.

After spending 2 hours in the store we had to haul it to get back to our hotel pick up our luggage and make it to the train station. We did so and met up with everyone at the train station McDonald's. We ended our AMAZING visit to Florence eating at McDonald's and drinking the rest of our Chianti.

The cherry on the sunday of this trip is the wonderful scorpion we found waiting for us in the bathroom of our flat. And lucky me, I got to encounter my little friend as I exited the shower. I have to say it was a quite a task to finally figure out how to kill the sucker. Thank goodness for hard shoes and our team work. I felt a little guilty that I had to smash the little fellow but we were scared. The results......