David

Experience 20. David

Early start as we had an 8:45am booking to see the David at the Academia. This was actually a free day but Aldo our guide had organized the booking for those that were interested. 17 of us set off by train for Florence after stamping our train tickets....you can buy a train ticket any time in advance of using it, but you have to stamp it before going on the train....no stamp, big fine if you are caught.

There were huge queues when we arrived at the Academia but we were able to walk past them all and go to the bookings door and cruised right on in. Lots of really old paintings, but at the end of the day it was the star attraction that got all the attention. Seemed to me that the reputation of the sculpture was not unreasonable. David was originally meant to sit atop the duomo down the road so he was meant to be viewed from below, this is apparently why his hands are disproportionately large. Once he was built I think it was decided that it would be a bit of a waste putting him up on high, so he ended up in the ...piazza, before moving on to the Academia for safe keeping. His hand that holds the sling has been reattached and his other hand lost the middle finger when supposedly a little girl was climbing him. These repairs can be discerned. There is apparently a gouge in one of his legs but couldn't make that out.

Full marks M.A....a fair piece of sculpting that.

Experience 21. Fun on the Foniculare

After Florence in the morning, we returned to our home town by train and freshened up before heading up the Foniculare to Montecatini Alto for views and refreshment. The foniculare was old and pretty slow. It climbed the hill steadily and surely. It was single track for all but a few meters in the middle of the rail where a carriage coming from the opposite direction passed.

On arrival we did a circuit of the town taking in views of Montecatini and beyond. First beer was in the plaza, just after our drinks arrived and we had done a salute around our table a great cheer went up all around the square......Italia had taken the lead against Croatia in their Euro cup match.

One of our traveling companions was convinced that the town had been used in the filming of a George Clooney movie...the American(?)....in which George goes about assassinating lots of people...all in such tranquil surrounds one can only assume. After that discussion we were all seeing George everywhere. Every short balding local was a candidate.

We dined at a hotel restaurant that was a bit out of the way but with breath taking views of the surrounds. Many bottles of Chianti, local pasta and one of the most fabulous sunsets you could wish to see later and we bid Montecatini Alto farewell.