Venice is like a storybook. You arrive at night, stars glittering overhead, passing alongside crumbling little shops with dainty treats in the windows, trotting over tiny bridges over still water. It's magical that first day, hopping for "free" onto the Vaporetto water taxis from island to island, treating yourself to a cappuccino and pistachio gelato. By the third day you realize that you haven't seen any Italians yet, just old English couples and Canadian backpackers, and you haven't thought through this decision to be a gondolier because really, there is not a whole lot to these islands but glass Murano shops and overpriced pizza shops. We ended Venice happily, content that we lived in a fairy tale for 2 days, glad to leave for Florence.
I was unimpressed with Florence at first. After meeting up with my dear friend Grace, we wandered around the city, admiring the Renaissance buildings and landmarks. I hadn't realized Florence was so small! We walked around a lot of the city in just a couple hours that night. But then I went to the Uffizi Gallery and saw Birth of Venus and Primavera, and saw the statue of David and the other classics in the main square. We found the best gelato places and experimented with different flavors a few times. Okay, every day...
I loved the cobblestone streets and local REAL Italian food joints, the bridge overlooking the city, and the wine tour through the Chianti region we joined. Next was the Cinque Terre.
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