Firezne and Bologna, Italy

After a busy couple of days we decided to just wander around Florence for some sight seeing and shopping. 

 

We started by taking the bus down to the central square and started the day with a chocolate croissant and cafe Americano, which is essentially a (European) cafe in a big cup, with extra hot water, and cold milk on the side...

 We saw the Duomo, Pointe Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and David, a great fort at the top of a steep hill on the other side of the Arno River, more great fountains, and of course restaurants- pasta, pizza, and wine!

After three nights in Florence we took the train to Bologna where a friend of Abbie's is going to school.  It was raining but that didn't matter as Bologna is ripe with porticoes. 

We had the most amazing meal at a quaint local eatery.  They just kept bringing delicious dish after fabulous treat!  Their house wine was pretty good as well!  Abbie enjoyed catching up with her friend as well.

It turns out that it wasn't necessary to go to Pisa to see a leaning tower.  Italy has plenty to choose from.  In Bologna there were two towers in the center of town, each leaning it's own way.  There was another that we will see later in our trip as well.