P7017804.JPGOn Monday, Pete, Patrick, Ki and I headed to Florence to see the sights I'd already seen. I was hoping to visit the museums that were closed on Saturday due to the strike.
Captured July 1 2002 12:28:49p
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On Monday, Pete, Patrick, Ki and I headed to Florence
to see the sights I'd already seen. I was hoping to
visit the museums that were closed on Saturday due to
the strike.
Captured July 1 2002 12:28:49p
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We started our tour with a visit to the Duomo. Due
to the fact that it was Monday, most of the museums
were closed. (Doh!)
Captured July 1 2002 1:03:17p
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This statuette of the Virgin at the entrance clearly
received a lot of attention by visitors.
Captured July 1 2002 1:06:49p
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The stained glasswork was magnificent, but it sort of
took a backseat to the paintings and murals decorating
the cathedral interior.
Captured July 1 2002 1:09:41p
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This is a high dynamic range shot of the main altar
and ceiling.
Captured July 1 2002 1:12:35p
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Michelangelo's depictions of Heaven were beautiful.
Captured July 1 2002 1:22:46p
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But his depictions of Hell were even more amazing.
Captured July 1 2002 1:26:34p
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I particularly liked the demon devouring sinners four
at a time.
Captured July 1 2002 1:28:32p
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In the Duomo Museum, which was open on Monday (thankfully),
we saw original art by masters that had been removed
from the cathedral for preservation.
Captured July 1 2002 2:09:38p
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This piece on poverty by Donatello was not very pretty
-- I don't think it was meant to be -- but certainly
powerful and a clear precursor to more modern sculpture,
which it predated by about four centuries.
Captured July 1 2002 2:12:55p
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This statue of Christ was about 15 inches head to toe,
and was incredibly detailed.
Captured July 1 2002 2:14:36p
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Michelangelo's Pieta
Michelangelo's famous pieta, the unfinished work that
was to stand over his tomb. This is approximately the
correct viewing angle -- from any other angle, the figure
of Nicodemus appears too large and Christ's torso too
long.
Captured July 1 2002 2:27:10p
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We stopped for a late lunch and a streetside cafe.
Captured July 1 2002 2:41:30p
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Pete took some nice black and white shots with his camera.
Captured July 1 2002 2:43:05p
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Pedestrians shared this street only with horse-drawn
carriages and delivery vehicles.
Captured July 1 2002 3:28:06p
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The Uffizzi courtyard.
Captured July 1 2002 3:48:19p
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Looking towards the Ponte Vecchio, the central bridge
in Florence.
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Captured July 1 2002 4:09:46p
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The Uffizzi
This is where we found out for certain that the Uffizzi
was closed, and discussed where we might go next.
Captured July 1 2002 4:06:16p
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We decided to have a wander over towards another museum
with some famous gardens, both of which were also closed
on Monday. (Sigh.) This was a private garden, which
was also closed to the public, but not well enough that
I couldn't get a photo.
Captured July 1 2002 4:48:32p
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We went to a public playground in the end, which was
open. We took some frowns from parents, though....
Captured July 1 2002 5:05:35p
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It was a relaxing time.
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I was very relaxed.
Captured July 1 2002 5:13:32p
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On the walk back through town, this street corner drinking
fountain caught my fancy.
Captured July 1 2002 6:42:22p
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You couldn't really get a good view of this famous Minerva
statue, except from the surrounding buildings, which
were too tall and too near to allow us to get any distance
from its base.
Captured July 1 2002 6:53:41p
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Chinese Food!
As much as we all liked Italian food, we were used to
a more varied diet, so when someone suggested Chinese....
Captured July 1 2002 8:02:57p
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Very satisfied and very tired, we hopped the train back
to Pisa.
Captured July 1 2002 9:43:02p