It didn’t seem like it was going to be a very productive day.  I woke very late and stayed in bed still later.  After dosing myself with tylenol, adderal, and diet coke, I was finally able to hoist myself out of my comfortable bed and get myself pulled together.  Determined to economize, we got directions to the Medici’s Pitti Palace on the bus.  Well, if my hip had been decent, we could have walked there in half an hour, tops.  But, due to the idiosyncracies of the Florentine bus system, it took us an hour and a half.  Then we discovered that it was nearly two and we were famished.  We just happened to be right next to our favorite restaurant.  We dined.  We did not reach the Pitti Palace until 4:00!

But all was redeemed when I finally got to the hill at the top of the Bobili Gardens, found the porcelain museum, and zap a subplot for my Crazy Ladies zipped into my head.  It involves crawling through the Medici’s private walkway, which is difficult and expensive to arrange, but we’re on it.  Turns out Florence is far too exciting for a pedestrian women’s novel.  This book is going to have plenty of ZING, not to mention a bright red Vespa.

David had a good day, too.  I’m sure you can’t wait to see his photos.  Neither can I.  I’ll get off the computer so he can add them.

Last two photos are views from the top of Boboli Gardens, standing on top of the high wall that protected the old city, looking at the surrounding countryside.  This is less than a mile from downtown Florence.  Click on photos for larger versions.