The last day.

 OK...It's actually April 14, and I'm sitting her waiting to get my winter tires taken off as I'm watching it snow outside. Oh the irony. I've been putting together some pictures for the twins to show their class and I remembered I still haven't blogged about our last day in Italy.

We packed that morning. We wanted to be sure we had room for everything in case we needed to get another bag or anything. It turns out we actually left with less then what we came with. Our awesome laundry machine made some of our clothes so dingy we didn't think they were worth saving, and we left all the school workbooks we came with. I'd love to say we'd work on them at thome, too, but I know myself better than that.

We went for a final walk around Florence, a final carousel ride (the pictures look the same as the other 74 rides on the carousel!) and ended up at the Duomo. The kids had been asking all month to climb the dome and today was the day. All 463 stairs.

The climb wasn't all that bad and only took us about 15 minutes. The last few flights were pretty harrowing, though, and the last 10 steps are more like a ladder up to the top. It was pretty scary for the little ones, but when you got up there...

climbing...

almost there...

Yikes!

Wow!

Ooooooo!

Ahhhh!

The view was amazing. It was a beautiful day and we could see for miles. It was really a treat to get to see the city that we had come to know so well like this. The kids were able to point out all the places they knew and find our apartment.

After we climbed down, we went for our last gelato near Santa Croce. We were all pretty tired after all the walking and climbing, so we went home and went to bed pretty early because we had a taxi coming at 7:30 the next morning to take us to the airport.

The flight home went without a hitch. The kids were seasoned travelers by then, and I was much more relaxed because I knew they could handle anything now!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

And with that, Papa and Grandma were whisked away in a taxi bright and early. That was quickest 2 weeks yet!

We were up and out and walked over to the Accademia dell'Arte to see David. We thought we were there early enough...so did the 6 or so tour groups that were there! I don't really have any pictures - they weren't allowed. It's not a huge museum, but there is a collection of Renaissance instruments and some sculptures and a bunch of art.

Some sculptures! We have been waiting all month to see the Prisoners and David!


To be honest, I wasn't expecting to be overwhelmed by seeing something that I've seen literally thousands of times in pictures and the last month on every street corner... but when you turn the corner and see the gigantic statue of David down the hallway...it truly is incredible. You can't help but stand and stare and finally know what all the fuss is about. In person, it is magnificent.  I was totally awed by what a man can create with his bare hands. And he was only 29 years old when he finished it.

Later that afternoon, Chris had quite a bit of work to do and needed it quiet, so I took the kids to the park. There were some people there preparing for a birthday party, so we only stayed for about 45 minutes. It was so  warm, that we decided to go to the Piazza Santa Croce and get a cold drink, and we sat a listened to a guitar player and chased some pigeons for awhile. Then, we walked a little way along the river away from central Florence. It was a GORGEOUS day, about 26 degrees and it just seemed too nice to be inside!

The iris is the symbol of Florence.

playing horses in the park

Whatchoo lookin' at?

Along the Arno

Monday, March 28, 2011

Hey, recognize this?

No? What if I put some yellow and red around it...

Not yet? Here's a BIG hint...

oooo....pretty...

 

and another...

Yup! Today we went to the Ferrari factory! Well, only John and Chris and I went. Liam was super bummed, but you have to be 16 to go on the factory tour and they are quite strict about it. So, the kids all stayed home with Grandma, and the three of us hopped in a car bright and early this morning and went to Maranello!

The "old" entrance. Enzo Ferrari's office was just inside so he could see the comings and goings of everyone.

We started with a really quick walk through the museum.

Some of the winning Formula 1's

The 458 Italia. Aren't I smart?! OK, Chris told me what it was...

I LOVED the older cars form the 50's and 60's...

...because they are GORGEOUS!

Unfortunately, when we went to the factory, they confiscated our cameras. Oh well. It was really interesting. We first went into one of the manufacturing buildings where they made the engines. We saw them machining the pistons and crank shafts and putting together the engine blocks. The building was pristinely clean. Most of the buildings are nearly brand new, and Ferrari has really concentrated on making a pleasant work environment, so there were plants growing inside and lots of natural light, and the the sound was kept to a minimum decibel level.

Next, we went to see them assemble some cars on the V12 line. When they say handmade, they really mean handmade! It was so interesting! Each car gets its own square on the "red carpet" - part of the floor (which is red) is the assembly line and that portion of the floor moves from station to station - one each hour. There were all different kinds of models on the line, left drive and right drive, and the workers have to know what goes where for each model, as well as what specific things go on for each order (those things travel around with the car).

On the way to the Formula 1 buildings, we saw the test track and watched a GT zip by. Enzo Ferrari had a house in the middle of the track, and although he kept an apartment in Modena, he preferred to stay here.

EDITED TO ADD!!! In between here we saw the private 599 GTXX collection. This means nothing to me, but it may to you as it does to Chris. Some guys were working on one. No wait, actually, I know what this is. It's another type of racing car that once it is finished in the professional circuit, you are able to purchase the car and race it privately. EDITED TO ADD (again, after checking with the expert who referred me to the handy-dandy book we were given at the end)... WRONG, Sarah! Any old person can buy the GTXX. Go out and get one today! Only a half million! What a deal!

We didn't get to see much of the Formula One things, because the season started yesterday, and they are quite secretive about their information, but we did get to see the warehouse where people store their Formula Ones. Let me explain...when they are done officially racing the Formula Ones, after 2 years (so as not to expose trade secrets!) one is able to purchase the car. Apparently, there is a private racing series (you may have already known that. I didn't) If you own one of these cars, you can store it at Ferrari and have them tune it up for you. Of course. Silly me for not knowing...

After a quick look around the store, we had lunch across the street and headed back to Florence.

All in all, really interesting and a great thing to do today since it was pouring rain. They really are some exquisitely beautiful machines. But do you want to know which one I really want?

The Ferrari Vespa! So cute!!!

It sounds like Grandma had a fun day with the kids, just hanging out and doing some school work. Thanks, Grandma! The school has kind of slipped by the wayside the longer we are here!

Tonight we are headed just around the corner for John and Dianne's last dinner here. These two weeks with them went so fast! And were so much fun!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Recovery day. Hoo man! Everyone is tired from Venice. More tired than we realized. Papa and Grandma went out for a walk to catch some things that they wanted to do or see again.

There was an antique/ flea market at the end of the street, so we went out and took a look at that since it was close. If I knew what I wanted (or knew anything about antiques) or wanted to cart stuff back to Canada, there was a lot of really cool stuff to choose from!

We also toodled down the street to one of the food markets. yum. We got some riDONKulous chocolate/ fudge thing. It's like eating the best Nutella ever. Oh and also some yummy candied nuts and some gorgeous pistacio pasty-fudgey-marzipan thing. Poor Daddy!

At the antique fair

Ooo! Food market in the distance!

Mmmm! Boar's head! (Actually the "cinghiale" is delicious!)

gorgeous!

fudgey-licious!

aaaaand this is what I did for the rest of the day - the view out the dining room window.

That was about the extent of the exciting part of the day!

pizza count

36

yup. 36 pizzas. And we still have 3 more full days here! ha HA!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

After all that food and a late night,


UP AND AT "EM!!!! We decided the day before to go to VENICE today!!!

We got up and hopped on the 8:30 train to Venice. It took about 2 hours.

When you walk out of the train station in Venice, the Grand Canal is right in front of you! It's pretty cool. It's a very crowded city - you can see the docked cruise ships as you're coming across the causeway. The guidebooks say that only about 75,000 people live in Venice, but 13 - 14 million people visit here every year, most (like us) for less than a day.

It is very beautiful. We walked through the winding streets to San Marco Basilica.

Welcome to Venice! Outside the train station.

Venice is famous for Carnivale. This shop had some AMAZING costumes and masks.

The family McLean

No, we didn't go on a Gondola ride. :(

Right beside St. Mark's basilica there are two marble lions. It is tradition for young children to ride the lions, and they are worn smooth from kids sitting on them for hundreds of years. Here are mine... (except Katie who didn't want to!)

St. Mark's Basilica is beautiful. It's very different from most of the churches we've seen because it was built from 1024 - 1069 (or so), and wasn't really changed during the Renaissance like so many other churches were so it's a very Byzantine church. The ceiling is all done in mosaics with lots of gold mosaics and is very impressive. Apparently, the patron saint of Venice was St. Theodore, who most hadn't heard of. Venetians wanted a patron saint with more cache, so in 828 two Venetians travelled to Alexandria and stole the body of St. Mark, hid it under some pickled pork (so the Muslims would stay away) and brought it to Venice where they built the Basilica around it.

Cafe Florian with St. mark's in the background.

 So instead of going on a Gondola ride, we splurged on lunch at Caffe Florian in the square by St. Mark's. We had a little math lesson figuring out how long this cafe has been here. It first started in 1720, and was the place to be for things concerning politics, fashion, art, poetry - well, life in general! We sat and enjoyed the piccola  orchestra while people watching.

The ciocolatta calda comes unsweetened and you have to add sugar (although I thought it was perfect without!)

 After lunch we decided to head over to the island of Murano, famous for it's glass makers. We walked over to catch a water bus (vaporetto) but discovered for us, a group of 9, it was the same price and way easier to take a water taxi. On the way we saw two columns (see the picture below) on the right you can see St. Theodore and his alligator (his symbol) and on the left the winged lion - the symbol of St. Mark.

In the water taxi

Going back through Venice in the taxi

The ride to Murano was beautiful. We passed San Michele. It's the cemetery and an island unto itself. Apparently it's quite serene and beautiful and it looked it. The whole island is walled and I think there may be a convent there as well.

The cemetery island of San Michele.

The water taxi dropped us off at one of the glass factories and we were immediately taken in for a tour. We just asked to be taken to that side of the island and he dropped us off at Salviati.  I
 have some amazing video of the glass blower inside, but it takes forever to upload it here. Sorry. The kids were mesmerized as he made a vase, and then made a beautiful glass horse in about 3 minutes!

Making the horse

2 chandeliers hanging in the factory.

We went upstairs and took a look at the showroom. I wish I could have taken pictures. The glass was stunning, to be sure, but the chandeliers....hundreds of them in every size and colour - they were spectacular. I don't know how you'd choose! (if you were in the market for one...we thought it might be fun to splurge until we learned what we thought was 3,000 was 30,000!)(I didn't quite understand the system of their tags, and I think that was their point!)

Papa and Hannah in Murano

Cool glass-decorated doorway of another foundry.

After walking around for awhile, we decided we were all pretty tired and caught another water taxi back to the train station. After sitting for a bit, we discovered we were all REALLY tired! I'm glad we called it a day when we did. Did we see all of Venice? No - we barely scratched the surface, but the kids can't really handle much more than that. I'm really glad we went. It's beautiful. I understand the concern of those that are worried it's just going to become a big museum, and by only going for the day, I suppose we contributed to that, but I'm too tired to consider it right now!