Left Cannes on Wednesday morning and stopped in Monaco for the morning. The principality is very crowded with housing and apparently has some of the most expensive housing per square foot in the world. Monaco is its own country called a principality ruled by Prince Albert. His mother was the actress Grace Kelly who was killed in a car accident driving her daughter Caroline to school one day. Grace suffered a stroke and drove off one of the cliffs. The Monaco Grand Prix runs there this weekend so the road track was already blocked off and the viewing stands erected. Views are spectacular and yachts are anchored in the harbor a week ahead of time for the guests to watch the race from the back of their yachts.
From there it was not far to the Italian border and drove to Pisa. It is the first time in 25 years that there is not any scaffolding around the tower. Interesting history the tower is built on swampy type land and it started leaning immediately upon construction. No problemo, the opposite side it is leaning the next floor we put larger bricks on the high side to counter balance. Starts leaning the other way, no problemo we make the columns longer on the opposite side. If you look carefully the building isnt straight at but like a banana!
From there we ended up in the neatest town called Montecatini. Checked into a hotel that was built as a hotel 158 years ago called the Grand Hotel and La Pas Spa. What a gorgeous place here is a link to the hotel if you want to look at it
Went for dinner and then hung around the town square until almost 11 watching people just visiting and talking. It was so great I threatened to sabotage the bus so we wouldn't have to leave for a day!
This morning left out early and went to Florence. Walked the squares and went to the Acadamie to see the works of Michelangelo including his statue of David. I never imagined it was 15 feet tall the detail in the marble structure showing veins and muscles it is pretty stunning. What was very interesting were his six unfinished pieces. He worked on all the pieces simultaneously and lost funding half way through so they were never finished and they are called his unfinished slaves as they are only partially out of the marble.
From there we went through the Tuscan country side on to Umbria and Assisi. The medieval village is on top of the hill with the basilica where St. Francis is enshrined. Roman ruins dating back to 200 AD. All the rock (Limestone) was quarried on site and built all the roads and buildings in the town.
By the way here is a picture of Peter enjoying the sights. :)
Buona Notta
D & D
Just some random photos they have all sent me.
Here is their guide, Brent, he has been doing this for 25 years.
Dale pondering a pretty big problem on the way to Pompeii.
Peter, should you get some new glasses?
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