Day 7: Photoshoot in Florence

August 31, 2015

One of the really fun things that we did in Florence was hire a photographer for a family photo session.  We looked at a few different photographers with fancy online profiles, but decided that route was too expensive, so we reached out to our home exchange host for her recommendation.  At her recommendation, we met up with her friend, Claudio (pictured below), who I guess is an amateur photographer.  Claudio also brought along his amateur assistant/buddy Piero, so we had a grand old time just walking around with our Italian friends taking pictures in a really lovely place.  I think it is safe to say we enjoyed the experience more than the result!

 Claudio is a very funny, energetic Italian who talked and laughed and joked constantly!

 That's Piero - these guys had some interesting techniques!

 We met up at the Piazzale Michelangelo, and then hiked up to San Miniato al Monte, enjoying the best views of Florence the entire time.  Adam snapped this candid shot as Claudio talked about the city with us.

 The kids loved Piero and Claudio, and Piero was happy to supervise Boston's sand castle building next to the cathedral.

Boston particularly loved Claudio, and he was content to hold his hand while we walked through the grounds.  Such a fun time!

Here are the best pictures from the photoshoot!

Day 7: 2nd Day in Florence

Monday, August 31, 2015

Oh, Florence!  What an amazing city.  For me, it is just this indescribable Renaissance-type vibe, the city just feels good.  It's funny that my favorite thing about the city was this feeling that is really hard to define, but doing my best to describe it, what we loved about Florence are the combinations of historical significance and modern progress, great tourism and being an authentic thriving "real" city, beautiful countryside and incredible urban architecture, and being exciting and full of things to see and do but still totally chill.  But beyond all that, there is just something about being in Florence that feels good.  And that is why we love it.

Via Di Bardi, CheyAnn's old street, Via de Bardi.  CheyAnn passed this statue ever day on her way to school.

Outside the door of CheyAnn's old apartment, 9 Via Di Bardi.

The marble sculptures make for a nice touch in the lobby, eh?

CheyAnn's old spot, where she would hang out and talk on her old-school cell phone.  Now a nice spot for her family to sit and relax.

From the Ponte Vecchio Bridge (which CheyAnn and her American friends, back in the school days, called simply, "The Pont".)

Cruising through the Uffizi.

This cafe was a little secret gem on the roof of a mall.  Walked right up, got a table, and enjoyed paninis with a perfect view of the Duomo.

For some reason, Boston is often very popular among young Asian tourist girls.  This is not the first time he has been caught in the middle of a similar photo session, and he is always a great sport.

Gail looking totally Italian!

One of the best places to view the city is from the Piazza di Michelangelo, where we spent the evening and did a really fun photo session (more on that later).

 

Walking to dinner at the Paulistano Ristorante, an exquisite Brazilian-Italian restaurant.  I really felt our family had arrived on our European vacation when our kids sat well-behaved through a 2.5 hour late night dinner.  Delizioso e rilassante!  (Delicious and relaxing.)