Our last night abroad

We got into Paris in the afternoon after a quick and easy flight from Florence. It was such a treat to be able to stay in the airport and not have to leave extremely early to be able to check in and get through security. 

Once we got checked into our room at the Sheraton we had a glass of wine at the bar before heading to the little restaurant for an early dinner. Midway through our meal we saw a lot of security officers and policemen walking hurriedly around the terminal. Soon after, the restaurant manager bruskly seated a few different parties at various tables around the restaurant and closed the steel gates connecting the restaurant to the terminal. After watching some armed guards (they carry machine guns) walking around in front of the steel gates, we asked our server what was going on. She said calmly that someone had left a bag unattended which prompted a bomb threat - style lockdown of sorts. She explained that it happens about every other day. After our yummy dinner (mama finally got polenta) we headed back to our rooms for a little French TV and a final glass of wine before hitting the pillow. We all got a good laugh watching the American show Pawn Stars with French voice overs. 

Our trip has been so incredible, and it's hard to believe that we've really been gone for two weeks now. This experience has been such a gift and I've learned SOOOOO much! Imteredtingly enough, it seems that the more of the world I see the more I realize that, although the languages and landscapes change, human nature remains essentially consistent across cultures and continents. When you realize that people are generally kind and understanding, the world becomes much less scary. 

I am so excited for my future travels, and so very grateful for the precious memories I will always keep with me from this trip. 

Days 11,12,13 in Florence

Ah, Firenze!! The last part of this trip has been just wonderful. What a big change coming from the little hill towns to the big city of Florence. Mama wasn't kidding when she said that there will be more shoe shops than you can shake a stick at here. 

When we arrived, we dropped our bags at the Westin while mom and dad returned the rental car. The man there was really nice and took great care of us even though we weren't even staying there. 

Once we checked into our rooms and saw mom and dads AMAZING upgraded room, we enjoyed a glass of wine on the patio before going out to shop a little and grab a bite to eat. One of our first big purchases was a beautiful leather jacket that mom and dad (mostly mom though) had a great time bargaining the price down on. 

We had dinner at Buca Mario and had so many yummy desserts - my sweet tooth was fully satisfied after that. I slept really hard that night and slept in till almost 11 the next morning. 

I skipped breakfast the next day and met up with mom and dad on the Ponte Vecchio. We had espressos and I had a fruit cup at a little cafe near there. 

Following the Ponte Vecchio, we went to the Duomo and saw the inside of the church and climbed the bell tower after. It is truly magnificent and magical. From the top of the bell tower we had terrific views and got a nice breath of fresh air after the 412 steps to the top! 

We also saw the Mercato which has been newly renovated. It was such fun to see all the vendors with their produce, meats, spices, fruits and oils. On the second level, there were rows of restaurants and tons of tables. We found a great little wine bar and had fun tasting different things. My favorite (no surprise) was a dessert wine that - dare I say - might even beat Vin Santo for me. As we were leaving, mom found a piano and couldn't resist playing a little. She sounded great even if her only competition was a little girl banging on the keys. 

That night, we got dinner at a really cool, avant-grade style restaurant that's owned by the Ferragamo family. It was very entertaining and delicious as well. 

The next morning, and our last full day in Florence, we spent shopping more and continuing to explore the city. In the morning we went to the Ferragamo museum and found the best little gelateria afterwards. My ricotta and fig and pistachio flavors were indescribably good. We saw the David around four and it was just breathtaking. I could have sat there looking at it for hours. Mom accidentally stepped on a street vendor's pictures and we all got a laugh out of that one. 

Our last dinner was at a fun little trattoria called the White Chinghale and it was our first time getting limoncello in Italy. It was just perfect and a great substitute for dessert. 

Although I'm beginning to feel quite ready to be back home, I know I will miss the wonderful shopping, food, wine, and character of Florence. Tomorrow we fly to Paris for one final day in Europe before the big flight home. Thankfully we are staying at the airport so we don't have to schlep our bags (no we did NOT pack light) across town. 36 hours from now and I will be back in the U.S. of A. with lots of souvenirs and many more memories.