Come stroll with me

After a late night enjoying the city's new year's eve festivities, we had a slow morning and left our apartment around 11 to find a beautiful blue sky - surely a good omen for the new year! 

Being New Year's day, most things were closed this morning, including the all-important coffee bars. We ventured across the Ponte Vecchio in search of a good coffee to start the day. I spotted people sitting at tables in a sunny spot, so we headed there. Ordering the coffee was easy enough, though when we took our coffee outside, the group of old men hanging around started speaking to us in Italian. We eventually worked out they were trying to tell us they were closing, but we could sit over there and climb over the wall when we were done. The coffee was terrible. But we made the most of the sunny spot while planning the rest of our day.

This side of the bridge was far more residential, and after the crowds of the last couple of days, it was a welcome change to walk far quieter streets.

We eventually came across a lovely little square where there were a few cafes and restaurants open. We had worked up an appetite, so we chose a little pasta bar for lunch. We shared a Margherita pizza and then had a pasta dish each. It was all delicious.

  

Our stroll continued past the Pitti Palace and back across the Ponte Vecchio. No window shopping for me today, as all the jewellery shops that line the bridge was closed. The post new years eve crowds were still filling the streets, so we were glad to escape to a cathedral that was hosting an art exhibition - 'Inside Banksy: Unauthorized Exhibition'. I had prior knowledge of Banksy, but not much. He is a British street artist famous for his political works. Inside the exhibition, digital images of his works were projected onto the cathedral's walls. It was interesting but not particularly value for money. Perhaps if you had a greater knowledge of the artist, you might have more appreciation for it. A nice way to spend a little time, however.

    

Our strolling continued, leading us to the beautiful Piazza Santa Croce. We took some time to 'people watch' until it got too chilly, and we found comfort in another Irish pub.

 

Time for a rest back at our accommodation, and then we headed back out in search of dinner. We always find the best restaurants when we wander off the main streets. It was early for Italian dinner standards (around 7pm), but many places were open. We find a lovely place back over the bridge directly across from the Pitti Palace. Another delicious meal was had, and I had most definitely left room for gelati! Another fabulous Italian day.