Resting Up

Okay, so I really didn't expect to write this much while in Italy, but I'm going to blame this tendency on the fact that [the smart traveller I am...] I forgot to bring a notebook with me.
In any case...

I went out with the aim of only getting food to eat for dinner and perhaps happening upon a random Italian landmark. It turns out that Florence really isn't that big so there were Italian landmarks everywhere! I found myself being pulled at by some mystic force... and whaddayaknow... I found myself in a fairly big (for a Monday anyway) marketplace that was right outside of the Medici Chapels. Walking past and taking photos, I was drawn in by another mystic force... food. I eventually caved in and bought a waffle sandwich (chocolate filling with whipped cream on top) and somehow had to figure out a way to eat it all as I was walking. I didn't do too well of a job with it and all I can say is that I'm up for another go at it. I was under particular pressure as, after about 45 seconds of eating and walking, I saw a huge church right in front of me. I soon found out that, just like in Pisa, each site has its own entry fee. I eventually chose the bell tower (frankly, because my map guide said it was only 3€; turns out it's actually 6€). Surely I've mentioned this before but I'll say it again: I am plagued with doing much more work than I ever expect to do.

Cue 17.55. I begin my climb and make my way up to steady ground. It's only 17.57. Wow, I climbed that pretty quickly. Oh wait, there's another flight of stairs. I stopped to take pictures at the current level and made my way up in about a minute or two. Finished? Yeah, right. I took photos at every level and began to see the moon clearer with every small window in the wall or level I came across. EVENTUALLY, at 18.16, I made it to the very top of the bell tower and, thankfully, I was just in time to see the sun set over Florence. It was such a beautiful sight. I wish I had my card reader here so I could show you the photos from the journey. I'll soon get to that back in Paris. Oh, did I forget to mention that the climb is about 400+ stairs, each way?
Out of the bell tower, I continued my journey, camera still in hand and snapping away, listening to my mp3 player as I focused on getting from place to place and simply observing what was going on around me. It was getting dark, so I decided to head back home, but after winding around through Firenze all day, I wasn't quite sure which way was which. Along the way, I spotted what seemed like a Mass service and indeed it was. Definitely not understanding Italian, I left for a bit, but returned to the church for a few songs of a free organ concert the church put on to raise money for what I can only assume to be its bell tower.

I ended up back at the hostel and thought it would be a brilliant idea to check out their cardio machines. Pffft. No details necessary... if I wasn't tired after going up and down all those stairs in the bell tower, I was definitely tired after the cardio stuff. Unsurprisingly hungry, I went to the hostel restaurant and bought a ham pizza. May I say... Italians undoubtedly know their pizza! Their pasta is up on the docket tomorrow.