Florence

Day: Sunday, 16 September 2007
Wellbeing: Good
Weather: Very warm
Highlights: Group photo shot at the highest point of Florence. Lowlight was the fact that the museum staff at the Academia were on strike, so I didn't get to see David in all his glory!

Because of the strike at the Academia, I went nuts shopping. I basically bought everyone in my family a present from Firenze. I bought a leather wallet for my younger brother, which I had his initials embossed with gold (as you do in Florence) and a leather belt for my Dad with his initials embossed with gold as well with 24K gilt. Bought leather bookmarks for my book reading friends, and these really cute keyrings in the shape of a key for my cousins.

Found Mum a handbag and one for myself. I then went over to the "Gold Corner" for a necklace weaved with gold threads like a scarf. The one I really wanted was made with white and yellow gold and is long enough to use as a belt. But that cost over 3500 Euros. There was a thinner, shorter version with a loop on one end (because its too short to knot), but that was 936 Euros. I thought it over, and finally said no. I either buy the one I absolutely love, or nothing at all.

So, I asked the guy to show me some rings! *LoL*

I ended up buying a 18K white gold ring. I have to remember to go to the airport in Paris to claim my duty tax back from the ring.

After spending up big, we went back to the wine country, more specifically Lucca (also known as Monte Carlo) in Tuscany, for some wine tasting at a vineyard.

We tried 3 whites, 2 reds, 1 dessert, a shot of grappa and had olives, sundried tomatoes (which I couldn't get enough of), and olive oil with bread...yum, yum, yum.