Walking out of the hotel, just down two streets we find the Basilica di San Lorenzo. We didn't go in there, but it seemed impressive, and that was just the first building we saw. Underneath are two streets lined with these shop vendors selling various leather goods, purses, and other assorted jewelery and knick knacks. This might be the famed leather market where you're supposed to haggle with the vendors and pick up cheap but nice Italian leather jackets. There's some interesting stuff, and the prices are sorta ok, and yeah, I was willing to haggle with them today if I had found a jacket I liked. I'm pretty picky about jackets, however, and I just didn't see anything that I liked (and that I'd still have to fork out at least $300 for). So, nah, I passed on the leather. Some of the market people are kinda pushy and there are a few shady characters whispering "Pssst, Rolex?" as you walk by. This unfortunately gives one the impression that all this stuff might just be just a bit fake. So another reason not to buy...
A little further down from our hotel is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore on the Piazza del Duomo, or otherwise known simply as del Duomo for its imposing dome (just visible beyond the intricate marble in this pic; you'll see it in another pic of the city coming up later). Beyond the Duomo is the Piazza della Republica (which I don't have a picture of) and beyond that is the famed Galleria degli Uffizi ("the Offices"), where the famous artwork resides (e.g., Botticielli's Birth of Venus; personally, my favorite is Canoletti, but the Uffizi only had two of his paintings—staring at these in person is a real treat).
Still further south is the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge over the Arno that holds a number of shops (jewelery mainly) that have been there quite some time. Past the bridge one gets to the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli gardens. That was our destination on the first day here (Monday) since it was supposed to be the only sunny day of our trip. More on that later...
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