Florence

I don't know where to start. Florence is so beautiful. We started this morning with a walking tour with our guide Luca. He was so sincere and showed how much he loves Firenze. We started at the Academy where we saw the original 20 foot statue of michaelangelo's David - just amazing. On the map we saw Piazza Annunziata (my Italian name)-- so we had to go there. It was beautiful -- on to piazza duomo - my pictures will have to show you the enormous and incredible beauty of this structure. Plaza SIgnoria was next where the original David was locsted. Because of the elements it was moved indoors and an exact duplicate was sculptured. Piazza Santa Croce was gull of vendors and shops - leather was purchased! We were then on our own and found the greatest little shop on the Fiume Arno - asked the shop keeper Mario where he ate lunch and he gave us directions to the best trettoria! Walked our lunch off (hopefully) by going over the Ponte Vecchio bridge - lots of jewels!! Only thing we bought was gelato. On the way back to the hotel Nancy almost got detained by policia and carabinieri in front of the US Embassy. There was a lot of activity and we saw a girl protesting - Nancy thought it would be a great photo op -- NOT!!!! 2 armed men came running towards me - I had not taken a picture (thank GOD) but I did have to show them the last pictures I took - the carabinieri guy said I had go to the embassy and give up my camera but the policia guy said it was not necessary - thank God!! Please not my pictures! Take me!!! All is well and we are safe and sound in our hotel. Buena Sera!