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After spending a few hours earlier in the day checking out the National Museum of Rome it was time to board the train to Florence. And what a train it was! Very comfortable, very, very fast (it maxed out at just over 250 KPH/155 MPH) and very smooth. Not at all like the high-speed American trains I’ve been on.
Passing trains going the other direction was quite a kick! A brief solid thump, a quick blur, and it’s all over in just over a second or so. Not surprising given the relative velocity is over 300 MPH!
Our hotel in Florence, Hotel Relais II Cestello, was on the “quiet” side of the Arno, the river which cuts through Florence. Our room was lovely, and spacious.
Plus, there’s a gelato place within easy walking distance. You must have gelato every day you’re in Italy. It’s the law :).
Because Florence spans the Arno there are many bridges across the river. They are both beautiful in their own right and provide great views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Of course, posing the right beautiful model in a shot multiplies its impact…
We were both surprised at how many tourists were out and about at the very end of the traditional season. A surprising number were Americans. In fact, I’ve yet to hear non-American English on this trip.
This shot isn’t about the people in it. I just found the geometry of the repeating arches fascinating.
About half of the bridges over the Arno aren’t just bridges. They have businesses, or apartments, or both built into them.
I wonder what it’s like living on a bridge. An ancient bridge. In an earthquake zone.
