Big Domes, Nice Dinners, and Crutches...

I'm in Florence now and the city is incredible. I've taken a lot of pictures as have the girls I've been hanging w/ for the past day or two. We have also expanded our group to included another guy and gal, so now there are five of us trapsing around the city causing a ruckus.

I got into Rome at noon and got lost trying to find my hostel. I finally did find it and met up with my traveling buddies. First we just walked around for a few to acquaint ourselves with the city then went on to see Michaelangelo's David. The statue is incredible! From there, we walked over to the Duomo which is a beautiful Church with a high dome and a small, spearate building with a set of Bronze Doors that are considered to be the beginning of the Renaissance period.

A few of us opted to climb to the top of the dome, which is about 900 steps round trip. I felt like is was a flashback to the Half Dome climb over the summer. The view from the top was incredible (pictures are forthcoming....).



Once we got down and were leaving the church, low and behold klutsy dave appeared and jacked my ankle. Such is life. I'm limping a bit, but I'll survive.

The night ended with a great dinner at a fine restaurant with a group of other hostelers and the owner of the hostel my travel buddies was staying at.



next stop: Sienna and wine country....