This is my final post about my trip to Europe last fall.  (If you missed any of the posts or you’re planning your own trip, all of the links are below.) During the car ride from Barga to Florence, I was feeling ready to go home.  I would’ve been completely okay with going straight to the airport.  But, after checking in at the Piazza Pitti Palace, shopping at a 163-year-old pen & paper shop, and being introduced to a gold & silversmith by our enthusiastic guide, I wanted just one more day.  Maybe two.  I was regretting the decision I made months earlier to spend just an afternoon in Florence. But, the flight was booked, so I needed to make the most of this time and soak it all in. We left the artisan workshop and Vanessa, our guide, led us through non-touristy narrow streets.  These streets were still bustling

My unenthusiastic start to our day in Florence was quickly turned around by our warm welcome at the Piazza Pitti Palace and meeting the delightful uncle/niece pair at the pen and paper shop that has been in their family for 163 years.  I was energized and excited to see what else Florence had to offer.  We met with our guide, Vanessa, in front of our hotel at 4:00 for a walking tour of Florence and to see Michaelangelo’s David. We were referred to Vanessa by several friends and we could tell right off the bat that they didn’t lead us astray.  She was energetic and passionate about sharing the history of Florence with us.  And, beyond that, she understood that we didn’t just want the typical tourist experience.  We didn’t want to elbow our way through thick crowds just for a picture.  We wanted to be shown her Florence, to