8 train hours resting

2 January 2008

We took the night train out of Paris last night and went to Florence. We were assigned cars by sixes. Some of us were assigned by fours because we didn't have the whole sleeping cabin. I was in cabin with one of the moms, a co-worker, and our tour director. We ended up sharing with an Italian couple from Florence. They were very nice and the man was tall, so he helped up put all our luggage up high so we would have room to sleep later.

The car looked like the train car in the Harry Potter movies from the Hogwart's Express. When it was time for bed the back of the seat came forward and became the middle bunk. The seat dropped to the floor and became the bottom bunk. The top bunk had been there all along. I was surprised by how much room there was between and I was pretty comfortable. We were asleep around 10pm because we were all so tired from the night before. I woke occasionally, but overall had a wonderful night and was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. We were awakened at 6am to get off the train and I finally felt rested enough to awake refreshed at my normal waking time.

We arrived in Florence a bit after 7am and took a bus into the town for the day. We had breakfast at a local restaurant and then had a walking tour of the city. After lunch, 5 of us headed to the Duomo to climb the 463 stairs to the top. This is the 4th largest cathedral in the world and the 3rd highest dome. (We saw #2-St. Paul's in London-and will see #1 in Rome-St. Peter's.) The other large cathedral is in Milan and I have seen that also.

The climb was hard and narrow, but worth EVERY step. Amazing view and being in the dome, inches from the artwork was wonderful. Later in the afternoon we went to the museum where the David, by Michelangelo is. We had seen a replica in the square, but seeing the original under a dome with unfinished sculptures by Mike in the hallway leading up to it was even more amazing.

In the evening, we went to a Renaissance Dinner Theatre and had a wonderful meal. My favorite part was the asparagus risotto and watching the kids get pulled up to participate in some of the jester's antics.