The Dude Abides in Florence

So we are now in Siena after four museum filled days in the art capital of the world, Florence. I won't go into detail about the 3,463 museum we went to during these four days except to say that there was one big huge suprise. Of course you have to go to the Ufizzi with all of it's amazing paintings, my favorites being the Doni Tondo of Michelangelo (the only canvas painting he did, believe it or not) and some really, really great portraits by Rafael. The most disappointing part of the Ufizzi were the Botticelli's...the Venus on the Half Shell was behind thick, glaring glass and you could hardly see it. Same with the Spring painting with the three graces. Oh well. (But the Venus by Titian was fantastic...she has such a 'come hither' look to her that you just gotta love it. That, and the little sleeping dog on her bed....



The greatest suprise, as far as a work of art, was a little known and little seen crusifix by Michelangelo in the Santo Spirito church, on the other side of the Arno, the Oltrarno. This is where few tourists fear to tread and in fact, we were lucky to see it. We had heard it was there and then we were looking all around the church for it. We couldn't find it so I asked a caretaker where it was and he said to follow him. He got out some very large keys and took us to a side room, a sacistry. We went in the room all alone (except for two other tourists) and there was the most beautiful Jesus-on-the-cross I have ever seen. This wasn't the Jesus with thorns on his head, lot's of blood and a look of anguish on his face. Oh no, this was a work of absolute genius, very human and very real...



So last night we are drinking some absolute amazing wine called Brunello de Montalcino in a little wine bar at the Santa Croce square when this local kid (early 20s) sits down at the table next to us. And to my astonishment he is wearing a Big Lebowski T shirt with The Dude on it and the quote, "The Dude minds, man". This kid is a big Big Lebowski fan so I know all is well in Florence. Now to those uninitiated in all things The Dude, this will mean nothing. But to all those Dude fans out there...THE DUDE ABIDES IN FLORENCE.

So tonight we are in Florence and had another amazing meal with all sorts of cold cuts, pecorino cheese, raviolis with mint and gorgonzola and to top it off a great steak with LARDO on top. To those who have read my previous post you will know that it doesn't get any better then lardo. But steak with lardo on top? Well, that is what they must serve in heaven and if I ever am asked for what I would like for my last meal, I now know.

We are staying in a nice little hotel that is actually a nunnery or was at one time. I was looking forward to it as I could be walking around Siena when I could look at Amy and say, 'Get thee to a nunnery' and really mean it. I was looking forward to little nuns showing us the rooms and maybe how the shower works and how to open the curtains. But I haven't seem one darn nun so far. I don't know where they are and I don't think they are coming out any time soon.