After spending four nights in Florence and touring the surrounding areas, our journey was coming to an end. It was time to head back towards Rome so we would be closer to the airport for our trip back to the U.S. on Saturday morning. But first, we were heading towards the hills South of Rome to Gabriella's villa in Velletri.
We were all sad to leave Florence with its beautiful architecture and Renaissance art, and Joyce and I had some unfinished business to do before we left this amazing city. We wanted to visit the Ponte Vecchio one more time!
We both wanted to shop - I wanted to buy a pair of leather gloves in one of the little shops that could be found along the way to the Ponte Vecchio, and Joyce wanted to buy a gold necklace. Up until this time, we had been so busy there wasn't much time to shop. Even now, we had very little time as the shops didn't open early, and our taxi was picking us up to take us to the train station at 10:00 in the morning. So Joyce and I got up early, left the hotel, and walked to the Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a famous medieval bridge over the River Arno that is noted for its goldsmiths and jewelers whose shops have been there for centuries. When we arrived, the shops were all still closed and we were worried in case they wouldn't open before it was time for us to leave. So we walked around a little, and soon the shop where I wanted to buy a pair of gloves opened. It was a small shop with every color and style of leather glove available, and I picked out a dark green pair that matched the green purse that I bought in the small leather factory that I found while in Tuscany. We walked back to the Ponte Vecchio, and none of the shops were opened yet. So we walked across the bridge and "window shopped" at each of the shops hoping to find what we wanted so we could hurry back in time for the taxi. Finally, one by one, each of the shops started raising their ancient solid oak bay doors and the shops were now open! Joyce immediately found a beautiful gold necklace, and I took her picture with the shop owner (and if she emails the picture to me, I will post it here). I bought a pair of gold earrings, and then we rushed back to the hotel and found everyone in the breakfast room. (TO BE CONTINUED...)
