………….reached Florence by 7:30 p.m. We walked to the youth hostel, dumped our luggage, headed to have dinner. After finishing quickly, we went to Piazza del Duomo. It was bustling with people and street vendors. At the first sight, it looked like a painting-surely a masterpiece of the Renaissance artists. We went around the building, it was Christmas Eve and fortunately we were able to enter a church where a mass was going on. We sat there for sometime and came out. Roamed around, had tiramisu and went back to the hostel. Here also we got a detailed map from the hostel managers who were very friendly and helpful. We picked up a tourist map from the hop -on-hop-off bus stop and we knew the routes. Tried watching 3 idiots online but network connectivity was not good.

Day -6 Pisa

On Dec 25 , finished watching the downloaded movie and started for the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was an hour long train ride through the beautiful Tuscany region. At the Pisa train station, we had our brunch and started walking towards the tower on a single lane. Crossed a bridge, walked some more and there it was. We bought the tickets to climb the top and headed straight for it. It was very amazing at the top. In spite of the wind and cold, it gave a great satisfaction and sense of achievement. Then we went to the Cathedral and a museum and headed back for the train station through a different route. By the time we reached Firenze, we were too tired, so had dinner and dozed off.

Day-7 , More Florence and to Paris

Next day, we headed for the famous Uffizi gallery and on our way took some pictures at Piazza Della Signoria. We stood in line for almost 2 hrs for the tickets and finally entered the gallery. Most of the paintings were really worth seeing and brilliant. Had lunch in the cafeteria inside the gallery, and came out. Then we started for Michelangelo-the highest point in Florence from where you get a view of the entire city and Tuscany region. We kept drifting with the crowd, crossed the beautiful Ponte(bridge) Vecchio, moved some more and finally reached the paradise. The entire walk was worth it. The view was awesome. Stayed there for a while roaming around, and then took a bus to the city. The bus ride was 30minutes long and it went around the entire area, so we had a glimpse of everything that we missed. I have started loving these local bus rides, you get to see and feel so much. At the station, waited for our next ride to Paris.

We covered Florence and Pisa on foot………..so no transportation map!

See you in Paris….