We started the day off by walking as a group through some of the main areas of the city, eventually ending up at the Santa Maria del Fiore. This is one of the largest churches in all of Europe, and is so big that you physically cannot take a picture of it as you stand in the square. It takes about 4 photos just to get everything into the scene. After the students picked their jaws up off the floor, they were set free from the group and allowed to explore the Renaissance city on their own. Most chose to begin with lunch, which is always an incredible experience in Italy. Fresh made pizza, pasta, lemon soda (an Italian specialty).
Following lunch, a big hit seemed to be the market. This market has been active in Florence for hundreds and hundreds of years, and is still a major hub in the city. Pashmina, Italian leather, corny tourist clothing and trinkets...you name it, it's at the market! Many students tried their hand at bartering, while others simply searched for the best deal around the area. It was quite entertaining to see some of their tactics, but we'll admit it was pretty impressive to watch some of them.
As for the rest of the day, there were a thousand different things for students to do, but most stuck around the main area, taking photos of the incredible architecture, famous statues and carvings, going to the Basilica or climbing the bell tower for a view of the city, or simply getting gelati and relaxing in the shade. But even after all this, there was a task at hand. The students were asked to meet at the Piazza Michaelangelo at 3:00pm, and were given basic instructions on how to get there. Amazingly, everyone ended up together at the top by the deadline, even after a few little bumps along the way! From the Piazza, the students were able to get a photo with the replica statue of Michaelangelo's David, and then take some incredible pictures overlooking the entire city of Florence. The clay tiles appear as a sea of red (just like us), and the Santa Maria del Fiore Basilica dominates the city as she towers over the rest of the buildings.
After another bus ride of a few hours, we arrived in Mestre (near Venice) where we spent the night. It's incredible to think that we literally just drove coast-to-coast in only a handful of hours! It's a crazy concept for Canadians. The students really enjoyed the day, and again were ready to rest by the end of dinner. Some explored the city of Mestre while others sat down to send a quick email home. They are all very excited about seeing Venice tomorrow, so please check back so we can share our adventures with you!
