Leaving on a fast train...

Last Saturday was our last day in Florence & our last day with Patrizia.  In the morning she guided us through the Ufffizi with a wonderful art history lesson.  We saw beautiful artwork by Masaccio, Michelangelo, da Vinci and the famous Primavera and Birth of Venus by Boticelli.  For me it was fascinating but for the boys it was little tedious.  Both of them decided that if they were Boticelli they would have painted Venus with more clothes on!  I have to say that they did very well spending 3 hours in an art gallery.  Maybe keeping their eyes on the prize of an afternoon at the park helped....

On our second trip to Cascine park there was more soccer playing but also fun at a Medieval festival. There was jousting, archery, drummers, flaggers- the whole works- a great finale for our time in Florence.

The next morning- a goodbye breakfast with Federico and the Frecciarossa (literal translation: red line but practical translation: fast) train to Venice-  Nash's very first train ride!

Frederico!!

The boys favorite sculpture in the loggia at Piazza Signoria-
they said it reminded them of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Arrivederici  to Patrizia

Rubbing the bronze boar- "Il Porcellino" for good fortune

Ross's turn...

Guess his luck ran out... now he's in the stocks!
(at the Medieval festival in the park)

They are asking Matt how much am I worth!

Nash trying his hand at archery-

Flag throwers

Meal with a friend
(who happens to be an apartment manager AND a martial artist!)

Hard to say Good bye...

Till we see you again!

Next stop- Venice!