I seem to buy wallets only on vacation.  My current wallet I bought on vacation in North Carolina many, many years ago.  I figured I needed an upgrade.  I’m actually unsure where I would buy a wallet not on vacation.  

After visiting the Museo Galileo, all of us went shopping.  RBD’s shopping inclinations closely resemble the 13 year periodical cicada.  For 13 years they lie dormant beneath the surface, and then suddenly explode into existence. Just like her want to shop. So she’s not often in the mood, but every 13th year it’s time. Even then she shops with an efficiency reserved for state executioners.  She is her father’s child. 

Both her and mom got new purses and gifts for their peeps.  I picked up a wallet and tie. Afterwards we headed to Mercato Centrale, which is the original Eataly … just less forced. I feel like they copied everything but the decor.  Well, that and Eataly is open later.  Mercato Centrale closes at 4 pm.  To round off her shopping window, now undoubtedly closed until sometime in the next decade, RBD bought gloves. 

We headed up to Piazzale Michelangiolo to watch the sunset and eat dinner. The view is something.  

This was the original home of David, everyone’s favorite man with (apparently) weak ankles.  At some point the Italians figured old, famous, tourist attracting sculptures were susceptible to the elements outside.  Plus when you enclose them in a building, you can charge admission.  A bronze copy stands in its place.  I read the piazzale was supposed to be a museum (of sorts) for Michelangelo’s work.  This plan, however, never came to fruition.  Now tourists jockey for space along the railings to take a bazillion pictures of Florence down below.  Counterfit goods are also sold nearby.  

If you go here, come at dusk and stay awhile. 

We walked further up the hill to San Miniato al Monte, a church that sits high above Florence.  Built in 1018, it feels a lot less ostentatious than The Dome.  I guess the Medici didn’t care about this church enough to gussy it up; the interior is largely unchanged from the initial construction.  A plus from the basilica in San Marco: less human sacrifice decorating the walls, instead replaced with geometric marble shapes.  This might be the church for me.  

We tumbled down the hill to dinner and found this hole-in-the-wall pizza joint with 10 tables.  I ate the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life, including dessert pizza, which was just more pizza but with Nutella in it.  You know, I changed my mind.  THIS restaurant is the church for me. I’m home!

Our walk back along the Arno provided some good photography opportunities.  

Tomorrow will be a long day.  We take a Vespa tour of the Tuscan countryside and have a fancy dinner planned for our last meal.