The second stop on our Italian adventure was in Florence. We picked an Airbnb in the north of Florence. It is about a twenty-five-minute walk to the city center from our Airbnb. This Airbnb and the Airbnb in Venice do not have family rooms (living rooms). The places feel more like a hotel, but we understand that hosts are trying to maximize sleeping space. Normally, travelers would be out sightseeing every day, but we are not normal travelers.
Our Florence Airbnb host Simone is charming. She was helpful with advice about the city. We were looking to sign up for a family cooking class, and she volunteered to teach us how to make pasta! She gave us a shopping list, and she brought the pasta maker. We had fun learning and eating what we made. She was excited to practice her English with us. We made ravioli, fettucine and spaghetti. She also showed us how to make delicious sausage bread.
We rented cars in Florence and drove to Bologna to see the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums. We all got to sit in a Ferrari. Lucas and Henry thought it was too low to the ground (so did I). Visiting these museums is a unique experience.
We spent New Year’s Eve in Florence. We decided to have a chill night at our Airbnb instead of braving the crowds in the city center. We played Farkle and ate Pakastani food. We were able to see fireworks from our apartment.
Lucas watched the two big football games on New Year’s Eve. The TCU/Michigan game started at 10 p.m., and the Georgia/Ohio State game started at 2 a.m.! I woke up at 5:50 a.m. and watched the end of the Georgia game with Lucas. He was tired the next day but excited to stay up and see Georgia win. Now, Michael (a TCU alum) and Lucas will root for different teams in the National Championship game.
Ice skating was on the agenda for New Year’s Day. It was 60 degrees out, so the ice was a little melty, but we all had fun. We walked around the city center. We saw the Piazza Della Repubblica (one of the oldest sections of Florence), Ponte Vecchio (the oldest of the six bridges that cross Florence’s Arno River), and Piazza del Duomo.
We visited two wineries on a half-day Tuscany tour. Meats and cheeses were by each winery, which kept the kids happy. It was a great way to spend our last day in Florence.
We ate a lot of gelato. We enjoyed going to the grocery store and cooking meals. Hanging out with our family was the best part of the whole trip. We love it when we can share our travel experiences with our family first-hand.
