Fiery Firenze

Second stop: FLORENCE

I've wanted to go to Florence for years now simply 

because of the movie

 While You Were Sleeping

Don't pretend you don't have a secret wish to fulfill Sandra Bullock's lifelong dream of putting a stamp in her passport and going to Florence. I know you do.

Well guess what? I DID!

We stopped by the Duomo and took some pretty pictures. 
The detail work on this building is extraordinary!

Here is a nice partial group shot of us in front of the Duomo. 
Notice our water bottles?
Yes, all of Italy DOES charge a ridiculous 
amount of money for water. 

We hiked the bell tower which was one of my favorite things 
about Florence. It was a bit of a hike...414 steps DOMINATED.
We thought we had reached the top of the bell tower after one flight of stairs 
and then someone discovered we still had 3 more to go.
My legs were shaking for the next hour...

But you know what? It was definitely worth it! The view was outstanding. 
Sandra Bullock...this is for you!

I really thought my camera was going to fall to its death but 
this picture actually turned out kind of cool. 
Yeah, Jenna! We made it to the top!

Oh, Florence! I love everything about you! This view was simply breathtaking!

This was breathtaking too...YUM!
This is probably the best picture I have taken yet!
Honestly, someone should just hook me up to an IV filled with gelato.
Really any way to get this stuff into my body ASAP.

Oh, and how could I forget? We went to see the David! 
I had heard about it.
I had seen pictures.
But nothing prepared me for how amazing it actually was.
All of the other sculptures/statues I saw in Italy were
nothing compared to David. 
(Also, did anybody know that it is HUGE?)
(This isn't the actual David. This is just it's replica outside a museum. You can't
take pictures of the real one but just believe me when I say how beautiful it is!)

Well a trip to Florence is nothing without a walk out to the Ponte Vecchio.
This bridge overlooks the water and really encompassed how gorgeous 
Florence truly is.

I could not get enough of the view of Florence and so I took this 
picture inside the Uffizi Gallery  where we saw the Birth of Venus and
my personal favorite, la Primavera!
Stunning. 

We wanted to have at least one really fancy dinner while in Florence and so 
we got all beautiful and went to ZaZa's! 
Delicious food, bread, expensive water, and lovely ladies. 

Bucket List Check-off #2:
GO TO AN OPERA
For those of you who know me you know how much I am in LOVE with operas 
and vocal music. This might be because I sound like a cow giving birth
every  time I sing and so I really appreciate the talent and beauty in operas.
Well, thanks to my WONDERFUL parents I was able to go see my 
very FIRST opera!

We saw La Boheme at St. Mark's and it was great!
I might have fallen asleep in the 4th Act but ya know I was REALLY tired
after exploring Florence all day okay? Ha. 
Still, it was incredible and I can't wait to see another!

Florence was the art capital of my trip to Italy.
Even the street artists blow my mind!
Good-bye Florence! Siena here I come!