We have arrived in Firenze

I loved Bologna, but have fallen in love with Florence.  I don't even have the words.  But first I need to finish up on what we did in Bologna.  In one day we trekked the entire old town.  We saw the Jewish ghetto and even found the old synagogue, but it has been converted into apartments.  We went into at least four churches, the most incredible being Basilica Di San Domenico.  Though they were all incredibly beautiful that one was truly a museum and a huge complex. Built in 1219-then enlarged in 1248 and improved and enlarged again in the 1400's.    Saint Dominic's (founder of the Order of the Dominicans) died in the Church and his body was buried there.  The body had to be moved to an alcove because there were so many pilgramages to see the Saint that it disrupted services and so the ashes were moved and reburied and a shrine was built. The shrine has in it the sarcophagus with the ashes which has the most beautiful marble carvings around it depicting scenes from his life.  There was also some incredible statues, one of which was carved by a very young Michelangelo.  Donna and I got separated again and she found herself behind the main nave and pulled what I call a Rob Wolin and just starting walking through open doors until I found myself in the inner courtyard- not open to the public.  I admired it for awhile and then went In search of Donna.  I found her back in the Church proper because her pathway led her back into the main sanctuary ,  I tried to take her where I had been, but this time we got caught before we made it out the side door and we told we couldn't go out there.... Little did they know I had already been there!