Florence is a reasonably modern urban city that is interlaced with classic Renaissance places, like the Duomo (Cathedral of St, Mary), the Uffizi Gallery (art like the Lourve in Paris) and the Accademia (Michaelangelo's David). Walking the streets, you are walking through outdoor vendors in front of boutique shops, and weaving your way passed gelaterias, cafes and ristorantes that cater to tourists and the locals. It is beautiful in spots and trashy in spots. The best of all worlds, I guess.

We (Deb, Catherine and me) spent only one day in Florence, and we did not visit the Uffizi or the Accademia. (I was there for a few days in 2009 and got to see the classic sites, with Mike.)

For the record, I like Florence about 100 times more than I like Rome.

Getting back to Lucca on the train took all the skills of a genius . . . so glad that Catherine was with us or else we'd still be waiting on track #8, as I thought we should. To be sure though, it was dark and uncertain until I saw the platform sign that said "Lucca".