My daughter has been here a week longer than us (on the Amalfi Coast), and she is angling for Chinese food tonight. I'm not going to comment on that.

So far we have stuck to no taxis, no buses, no metros, and no horse-drawn carriages. However, she has discovered that the best gelato place in Florence is so far away it's practically off the city map. I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out.

Wow. I knew Florence had upscale shopping, but this is like Rodeo Drive on steroids, only in tiny shops tucked into beautiful medieval buildings. There are so many tourists my husband says it feels like Disneyland; they ought to charge admittance at the airport. Weirdly, we're having a great time so none of us minds much, although obviously later in the year would be better.

So far I haven't bought anything to take home. In fact, I haven't bought anything but three postcards. I got unnerved by the Uffizi Gallery's gift shop, which was larger than many department stores. OK, a slight exaggeration, but it did go on for room after room. 

(Photo of a shop window by me)