Leaving Florence

Posted by Elizabeth. We're on the train to Venice and so sad to leave Firenze. A beautiful city and a wonderful family as our hosts. Anna and Doreen, thank you for everything and we hope to see you again. Your home and family are beautiful and we felt part of the family. 

We're on the fast train to Venice. Not sure it's very fast since it is stopping quite a bit but it's the most comfortable train I've ever been on. Plush seats, power, high tech lighting and lots of room. Amtrak could learn a thing or two. I'm a big fan of trains and this one tops the list. 

A few days ago Beth, Leo and I went to the Stibbert museum near our apartment in the hills above Florence. The Stibbert family lived in a lovely villa just off Via Bolognese and amassed a vast collection of armory. When the last of the family died they left the home, garden and collection to the city as a museum. We had the extra treat of walking there from our own villa down windy ancient roads. 

I've included some photos of the collection but I'm not sure they do it justice. There were rooms and rooms of Knights in armor and a massive hall full of Knights on horseback, all fully clad in stunning metallic gear. Such a different concept of warfare than our own which seems so crude and ugly in comparison. 

They also collected swords and guns and other weapons which had their own artistic beauty. 

On to the city of water...