Back to Florence, Italy

On our second day to Florence we walked through the self-guided renaissance walk, recommended by Rick Steves in his guide-book, enjoying all the major attractions once again. We used the parking garage near the soccer stadium north of Duomo and main sites and headed down to the Arno river. The area nearby the river is known for great shopping which was on my list to check out as well. Great weather, familiarity with the area made it for a pleasant slow pace day.

My brother, Ivan, and his wife, Lyuba. Couldn’t ask for a better company.

Ristorante Paoli was our stop for dinner. My work boss recommended this restaurant and we were looking forward to give it a try. It’s always great to have some recommendations from trusted sources. Truffle pasta was Delicious!! I’ve learned about truffles while listening to one of the youtube videos before our trip.Truffles are very expensive and are harvested from the inside of tree roots. Dogs are usually trained to hunt for this deliciousness because of their good sense of smell.

Even after a week in Italy we were still on our early dinner schedule so when we walked in to the Ristorante Paoli it was almost empty. Italians like to eat their dinners late evenings. The food was yummy and the service was exceptional as well.

Picture time before hiking up the steps to the Piazzale Michelangelo square.

Piazzale Michelangelo was our last stop in Florence. It is located on the hill across the river and has the best views of the city. We chose to walk up the hill to get there. About half of the walk is along the river which I always enjoy plus it’s a great opportunity for an ice cream.

Caught my Handsome and Beautiful in the moment.

Our way back was even more enjoyable. Ashley got to play with the bubbles made by a street performer. It took some convincing to get her going again.

Back at the river for the sunset and walk through the evening city to the parking garage.

Although I prefer to visit places we haven’t been to before, I do enjoy coming back to places like this. Days like this leave special gratefulness in my heart. God’s paths are always the best to take. He always fulfills his promises, awards and protects.

Our next adventure was cinque terre, a must visit place in Italy.