Firenze!

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful we must carry it with us or we find it not" Ralph Waldo Emerson What an experience to be immersed within the premier artistic capital of the Renaissance. We were enchanted by the walk through the cobblestones streets, past the Duomo, Baptistry and Piazza Della Signoria where students immediately recognized works of art that they studied. We had the most amazing tour of the Uffizi gallery by two very knowledgeable guides, Andrea and Annamaria. We then proceeded to Santa Croce to see the tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machievelli and the cenotaph of Dante. We explored Firenze in some record heat but we all enjoyed our time under the Tuscan sun! Students had free time to explore, shop, indulge in more gelato and local treats. We returned to freshen up, gathered to have a delicious dinner together and enjoyed some piazza life. at one point some us gathered to chat, laugh, dance, share some treats and learn more about each other. What is so wonderful about these students is that they have embraced eachother with a sense of family regard for one another. It is an endearing bond that is seen in the way they laugh, support, share and respect one another. Tomorrow we will brave day 2 in Firenze with temperatures which are said to be about 40 degrees (Dante is welcoming us Canadians with his inferno!) ha! But we can not wait to return so we can see Michelangelo's David in the Accademia and the Santa Maria Novella Duomo!