Up early again, it's a travel day !
Having packed last night it didn't take long to get ready, I managed a few farewells to my friends in 'Habari we Dorm hostel' I've not spoken to as many pretty girls in their beds as on this trip in a very very long time .... Ok ever!! 😁
The joys of dorms !
Out the doors and into the grid of roads , firstly in the wrong direction before I remembered Evi's route from the day before!
Back on track and via a coffee shop I'm literally on tracks from sunny Bari towards Bologna!
Today's travel is the longest stretch of track I've been on during this trip with the Adriatic looking enticing on my right! 
Which
Which my usual train photo is barely adequate!
To the left the terrain shifts between towns, hills, fields and distant snow capped mountains, before the track heads west inland.... An uneventful trip during its nearly seven hours! Then at Bologna as I change trains I have a giggle at another sign....
before I'm on the train to my destination of Florence!
before I'm on the train to my destination of Florence! Only an hour's trip but it's almost all in tunnels!!
Luckily I was sat with a lady who enjoys travelling so we had a nice chat of shared experiences.
Off into the sun at Florence and a short walk through the outskirts of town take me to the Hostel.... This one is huge.... And so is the number of people....
Still, nice reception staff and I'm into my room, there's a bar that does meals here so I save any venturing out for tomorrow.
Day 50
Breakfast at the hostel unlimited continental for 10 euro not bad!
But I've heard too much about about Florence/Firenze to hang about!
And off into town the streets changing quickly from the slightly more modern
into a classic Italian plaza! 
my first place to visit is rather hopefully to see David! But the queues for those without tickets put me off! But I'm not missing this.... Online I spot availability at dinner time for buying an advance ticket, that's quickly snapped up!
into a classic Italian plaza! my first place to visit is rather hopefully to see David! But the queues for those without tickets put me off! But I'm not missing this.... Online I spot availability at dinner time for buying an advance ticket, that's quickly snapped up! So I wander this town is perfect for doing this! Architectural eye candy at every turn!!
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is another wow moment!! The queue once again putting me off entering for now! 
The wander continues.... Into another plaza 
with curious pink cloth sheets padlocked to a fountain each sheet baring the name of a lost soul... Another demonstration against the murder of women!
The wander continues.... Into another plaza with curious pink cloth sheets padlocked to a fountain each sheet baring the name of a lost soul... Another demonstration against the murder of women! 
Italy has a problem! This is the third such place after the two walls of dolls I've seen during this trip through Italy 🫤
Wandering on I pass through a church with a nice bronze statue
to a piazza with another church with a modern art statue called the watcher!
reminiscent of the architects from the movie Prometheus!
to a piazza with another church with a modern art statue called the watcher!reminiscent of the architects from the movie Prometheus! So starts a few hours of statues of naked folk!
Yep it's time to see David!
Buying a ticket was certainly the way to enter the fairly small museum that holds this epic! I'm in and it only took 10 minutes of queueing!
The first hall holds vibrant art work
and the first nude, some of the artwork being less vibrant this one of Mary Magdelane and John the Baptist, which had been part of a triptych the central panel of which had been destroyed in a bombing raid in 1945...
the rooms to the right hold historical musical instruments only a hurdy gurdy catching my eye here
back through the first chamber and into the hall in which David stands,!
and the first nude, some of the artwork being less vibrant this one of Mary Magdelane and John the Baptist, which had been part of a triptych the central panel of which had been destroyed in a bombing raid in 1945...the rooms to the right hold historical musical instruments only a hurdy gurdy catching my eye hereback through the first chamber and into the hall in which David stands,!
my first reaction? He's got a big right hand!!!
And I'm right! It seems this was deliberate to imply David having the strength of God on his side to defeat Goliath!
This is one massive statue, my first photo not really showing this dimension....
the following hall has an incredible collection of busts! 
lining the walls!
the following hall has an incredible collection of busts! lining the walls! I took a particular liking to the way the sun was catching the statue of a child/cherub(?) 
cheeky little chap!
cheeky little chap! And that was this museum done like I say small .. But everyone is only here to see David!
The Cathedral not being far away I walk back, the queue is only along the front of the building now so I wait admiring the incredible work put into it's marble façade 
stepping in I won't say it's underwhelming but after the gilded ornament of the cathedral and basilica in Rome this is really minimalist! 
the dome standing out in its beauty
stepping in I won't say it's underwhelming but after the gilded ornament of the cathedral and basilica in Rome this is really minimalist! the dome standing out in its beauty