8 July

8 July
We started our day at the Galileo Museum, one of Finn's must-do events.  This was a terrific museum--not really all about Galileo, but scientific instruments and materials of the last few centuries.  Glass thermometers several feet long that you can't believe survived for 300 years without breaking.  Drawing and surveying compasses, microscopes. The highlight, though, was some of the demonstration experiments that Galileo built and used to explain different principles of motion in particular.  They had some of these to look at, videos to explain their purpose, and then (later in the exhibit) hands-on models you could play with and try out for yourself.  Fun!  When we came out of the museum, we encountered the first rain of our time in Italy. During the fifteen minute walk back to our hotel, we got absolutely drenched--and we had raincoats on!

Il Duomo is amazing, a huge cathedral in green and pink marble with a dome that dominates Florence.  It's one and a half blocks from our suite, so makes a great landmark.  We went inside the cathedral, which is actually quite plain and not very interesting.  Better is going underneath to see the crypts and old cathedral remains being excavated (cool!), then climbing 414 steps up the campanile (tall tower right next to the cathedral, which is part of Il Duomo).  My knees are a bit concerned about the way down, so I stop at a landing about halfway up and let the boys continue onward.
 
Dinner tonight at La Buchetta, with Coen ordering a huge steak that has to be seen to be believed.