Getting & Going Up in Firenze

For the 2nd night in a row, I woke up at 1:15am without the alarm going off and got up to see Game 2 of the World Series that was starting at 1:30am here. I have come to the conclusion that my body automatically knows when a Giants game is on and the internal alarm is always ready to function. I had a good feeling about this game, as Matt Cain has been pitching lights out for some time now and I just felt that he would dominate. The only thing I was worried about was whether the Giants would score any runs for him, as they have a history of not doing so when he is on the mound.

As was the case in some of the previous games, Judy stayed in bed and slept until I woke her up with an update. She got a little more rest last night, since nothing really happened until the bottom of the 5th. Judy missed Renteria's HR, but did get up in time to see the rest of the fireworks. Again, another sacrificed night of sleep that was well worth it. We are really stoked to see the Giants take a 2-0 lead. Would it be to soon to think about...........a SWEEP?

Anyway, it was back to bed at 5:30 with really no requirement to get up again at any particular time. However, Judy had an agenda today.........climb up every freakin' stair & hill that she could find in & around Firenze. OK, that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but that is what my legs are telling me tonight. I rolled out of bed a little before 9:00am and the Energizer Bunny was already up, dressed, and chomping at the bit to head out. Our first stop was the Campanile and to climb the 414 steps to get the panoramic view of the center of Firenze. If you do come here, you really should do this as the view is incredible.



Our next stop was Fiesole, a small town on a hill overlooking Firenze. The good news was that we didn't have to walk there.....a local bus took us there.  However, once there, walking around that town was like climbing the Alps. Going up steps are not so bad, because you can see the landing and there are intermittent ends in sight. Walking up steep hills though never seem like you are ever going to get to the top. It's especially frustrating when you get to the top and you see that the next hill is waiting for you just around the corner. All kidding aside, it was a charming little town that did have very nice panoramic views of the city.

We had a nice lunch overlooking some interesting ruins from the Etruscan times (amphitheater, etc.) and headed back down to Firenze to Piazza San Marco. On the ride down, Judy is talking about walking up to Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte & Forte Belvedere. Thinking fast, in order to save time.....(yeah, that's the ticket) I suggested that we take the local bus from Piazza San Marco (which is on the other side of town from where we were going) up to Piazzale Michelangelo.......and it worked.

Next stop was up the hill to to the church at San Miniato al Monte. It's not far from the Piazzale Michelangelo, but it's uphill and up stairs to get there. It's perched up on the hill over Firenze and I believe that I have some relatives buried in the cemetery that is adjacent to the church.

Next on the agenda was to get to Forte Belvedere which is on top of the next hill to the left as you look back towards Firenze from San Miniato al Monte. You start out the walk going down hill and I was thinking.......this is more like it. However, I soon came to the realization that the more I went down this hill, the more I'd have to climb to get to Forte Belvedere.

By the time we got to the top of Forte Belvedere, I was pretty much done. Luckily, the sun was beginning to go down, so we headed down. After stopping for the obligatory photos at the Ponte Vecchio, we started to work our way back to our apartment.............and the 67 steps up to it! I am going to be glad to sitting on the train for the 1 1/2 hour ride to Rome tomorrow.