After a week of biking, Kathy and Ben headed off to Florence for three nights at the Grand Hotel Cavour. Two gelati a day made sure that we would not have lost weight over the vacation.
The first day Ben got misled by the map the hotel had provided and we found ourselves on Costa San Giorgio, a narrow, steep road up the hill behind Palazzo Pitti (which had been our original destination). We bumped into a pair of tourists from the midwest, and ended up joining them on their guidebook walk up and down a couple of the hills, with the high point (figuratively and literally) being the church of San Miniato, high above the city. We were thrilled with our little bit of serendipity.
We did eventually get to Palazzo Pitti, and the two associated gardens, Boboli and Bardino, the next day. On our last day we re-visited the Medici Chapel, which had impressed us on our last visit and did so again. Then a stop at the Mercato Centrale. Dinner that night was with Ben's cousin, Dorothée, after which we met her daughter, Elinor, for the first time ever.
Special commendation to Google for helping us fine our best meal of this visit, and La Maremma. Excellent food and service at very reasonable prices.
As before, a wonderful visit to a wonderful city.
