Top of Duomo!

  Headed out early this morning with the 4 plus Connor and Jake to get in line to climb to the top of the Duomo.
   We got in line about 10 minutes before they opened and were probably only 15 people back from the door.  The climb was long on tiny, narrow, sometimes winding staircases.  Sometimes with low ceilings and short steps.  Going up was hard on the legs but coming down was hard on the psyche.  One false move and you could take out the folks down the stairs from you.
    Walking between the walls of the dome were very cool.  The brickwork done on an angle so that the pressure is against itself.  Very cool and what an amazing breakthrough.  The Florence skyline is covered with domes - it changed the way churches were built.
After the dome we headed to the Central Market.  We bought more cherries and some dried fruit for the afternoon trip to Chianti. 
     We passed by the sandwich shop and bought lunch and cookies for the trip.  I ate immediately upon arriving at the hotel but we had an hour to hang out and catch up on the blog and try to plan the rest of our trip.  So far, we think Cinque Terre and Positano.
    Afternoon Chianti tour took us to a small walled city of Monteriggioni where we climbed up some stairs to walk next to the top of the wall.  Pretty cool.
     Next stop Larnado winery where we saw there small operation and tasted a few wines then on to Castalina di Chianti.  Another small city on the top of a hill.
     Home to take out pizza and more wine.  Probably one of my favorite nights, all very low key and together.  Great day!