Florence part 1

Gosh, I'm so sorry for the delay, as it turns out, I'm having so much fun I run out of time to blog!
First of all, I want to say a big thank you to the team at Youth Meeting Hostel, the place where I stayed in Florence. It was an amazing hostel, and with a great team running it. They did a free pasta dinner every night with some sangria, and everyone who stays there is invited. It's so good, you get to have a good chat and to interact with everyone else staying there. Its the first hostel I have stayed in that really felt like home, even though there was some chronic snoring going on there, it was a brilliant place to stay.
Now what can I say about Florence. Typically, you imagine it to be beautiful, nestled amongst rolling Tuscany hills, the sun is shining, the people are friendly, life is good.
In fact, nearly all of that is correct, except for the two nights of horrendous rain and thunderstorms, in which I got soaked not once, not twice, but three times in one day.
I even managed to catch a rainbow inbetween soakings!
First things first lets talk about the cathedral. Wow. Is so refreshing to find a) a cathedral that isn't oppressive and b) the inside
isn't so over adorned inside you have a headache from trying to take it all in.
The cathedral in Florence is beautiful. White marble, with the most stunning green bands running around its exterior. Stunning views from both the cupola (the giant dome) and from the campanile (the bell tower) 
A word of warning though. To see the incredible view over Florence, you have to literally fight your way to the top. And I mean fight. The campanile has one staircase, barely wide enough for one, which people going both up and down use at the same time. And the cupola is even worse! Talk about a tight squeeze. You literally have to go hand over hand in places, get squashed against the walls, smack your head on all manner of short doorways and beams, and perhaps worst of all, you get just a mere few seconds to look at the incredible frescos painted in the interior of the dome. But I can honestly say. It was worth it. (save for the bruises, scrapes and cold hands at the top!) 








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