Today is my 49th birthday. My last birthday with a 4 in front of it. I awoke this morning at the Hotel Bernini in Florence. Last night, I had a four-course dinner at a wonderful restaurant, including too much wine. The meal was so fabulous, I’m not even going to try to top it. I’ve also grown a bit weary of getting lost. Florence is a maze! But since I was out the door at 7:30 this morning, I made it to the Uffizi and didn’t wait in line for long. The museum was spectacular. After I meandered amongst the statutes and busts and Botticelli paintings, including the Birth of Venus, I spent the next five hours wandering through the maze of streets that is Florence. I’ve finished being lost, and now I’m sitting in the hotel bar. It’s lovely, decorated in traditional Tuscan furninishings of purple and gold. I’m sipping on a delicious chianti and watching people. Not a bad way to spend a birthday.
Ive got lots of photographs left to post, including those from my favorite day of all: Cinque Terre, the Italian Riveria. The coast was spectacular. As was our cliff-side lunch.
This has been such a fabulous trip. I’m not sure how I’m going to top it next year: 50. Any recommendations?
