Ciao Stair Masters,
After a lovely night sleep, up early and enthused, we stretch and limber up for our ascent. Have I told you how much I hate stairs? I am only eternally grateful that I gave up smoking some years ago because I would have been dead a third of the way up undoubtedly. The target is a tight circular climb and in parts near vertical 484 stair climb up inside the Duomo, to see the dome from half way up inside, up more steps to walk the external terraces of the Duomo and then up more internal steps to get to the top and see Florence from the most unique and beautiful spot.
But before we tell you about the climb, a bit about the Cathedral. It is Florence's principal church and is in the centre of Florence. It was built in the 13 century but was given it's current marble facade in the 1800's. Its rather spacious! We had a tour of the church and interestingly it houses stuff not only celebrating the usual religious suspects of Mares, JC and the like but also prominent important citizens who have helped or promoted the interests of Florence- people like Dante and so forth.
As I have said previously - am a philistine so art per se doesn't do it for me. But inside this great pile are two frescos . One painted at the end of the gothic era and one painted at the start of the renanaisance period. They sit side by side and depict two great soldiers on horseback, so the subject matter is identical. The gothic one in the style of painting of the
day, was a painting of a man on a statue- no movement, no flexing of the anatomy of the soldier or horse, no natural expression on either face. In short the painting of a statue. The renaissance one however shows movement, muscles tension, hair flying etc. This is essentially the shift from one era to another in art. So you see Kate, we are learning about art stuff without even realizing we are doing it.........
We head skywards in the internal stairwell to half way up the dome where you can circumference the dome and look down at the central alter and nave. And then we head again into the internal staircase to head to the terraces. Imagine a very small internal tunnel not much taller than me, and approximately a metre and a half wide. Comprised of heavy blustone like blocks, it starts off cooler but as you get higher the air gets thinner and the bodies get hotter. Others are coming down as you are heading up. It's close confines folks and not something I would recommend Sally undertake anytime soon. But I have my trusty knee supports on so all good.
An amazing view of the terraces that enable you to walk around the entire building and see Florence at mid level. We then head back inside for our second onslaught. Know I know how Sir Edmund Hillary felt - ok, a slight exaggeration but still cool.
This part is pretty steep, very tight enclosure and very warm and its only 11.30. We make it victoriously to the top, one guy humming the Rocky Theme as he emerges in the sunlight. One dipstick woman wore kitten heels.... I cannot find the words for that level of stupidity.
Before us lies Florence with her terra cotta tiled roofs, distant green gentle Tuscan Hills and best of all, the ringing of the many Churches' bells across the City as it hits 12 midday - just picture postcard stuff people. A beautiful memory and no CPR intervention required. It would seem the steep mountain sides of Positano provided us with the necessary match fitness for a successful climb. If you find yourself here, this is a must do thing.
We descend-easily and head to the Crypt- disappointing as no dead bodes, the Baptistry with it's beautiful gold paneled dome, yes another one right next door and then off to the Museum to see where they keep all the original gear for safe keeping - including Michaelangelo's Pietre - a v famous sculpture. This scuplture he made when he was a youthful 80years of age.
We had had enough culture for the day so it's wine'clock to drown my sorrows at the Bluies loss by 3 points to Weagles. Happy for young Edward, Michelle's nephew so that he doesn't have his little heart broken and sorry that Joyce's barracking for Carlton was not enough to get us over the line - thanks anyway Joyce. Sorry for Dad that the swannies lost. Special call out to Ranj from Siobhan "Go Hawks!!!!!!" she reckons if you had Roughie in, you would have a real chance to go all the way. I won't share with you Siobhan's latent joy at Carlton's loss, nor that she was hoping Josh Kennedy would kick the winning goal. I will just wait till we are back home and Invite the Carlton crew over for a long dinner- they can extract justice and payback on my behalf. Sorry guys but as they say, there is always next year.
I will leave you with an amusing historical fact. One of Lorenzo Di Magnifico (di Medici) sons called Giovanni, was elected Pope and became Leo X. He was 37 years of age, overweight troubled by a stomach ulcer and an agonizing anal fistula. Hence his formal entry on horseback into the Vatican was thus not quite the unalloyed pleasure it might have been. He suffered terribly from the heat and the pain of riding in his condition. Those who stood near him suffered almost as much from the overpowering and noxious smell emanating from his ulcerous stomach and the infected fistual on his enormous backside.
Don't you just love history !!!!!!!!
Ride on Cowboys and Cowgals
Kelly & Siobahn xxxxx
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