The Bronze Boar

Yes it is ugly and I almost didn't photograph it but I'm a tourist so....

As with many of the statues in Florence, this one is actually a replica. Made to replace the original, which is made out of marble, when it started to show signs of damage. People rub it's nose for good luck.

Unlike the original this one has water coming out of it's mouth. The custom is to put a coin in his mouth, rub his snout and make a wish. Supposedly if the coin then falls into the water drain under it's mouth, your wish will be granted.

Famous last words

Jordan- I thought it was a sheep.

Jordan - Who is this Madonna person anyway.

Me-Just don't look between the ears.
(I've been doing this for 20 years.)

Everyone-Does it have a toilet seat?

Florence-Santa Maria del Fiore

The exterior of the Santa Maria del Fiore is astounding. It is completely decorated with marble-mostly green and white with a little red. Photos don't capture it's ornateness. We could not help but marvel every time we passed the Duomo.

So of course it was on our to-do list. We were pleased that there was no entrance fee but we soon found out why. Someone forgot to do the inside. Or, so much money was spent on the exterior there was nothing left for the interior.

It did have a very nicely painted Dome which you could climb up to. But you did have to pay and it involved more queuing. I think we were all a little bemused when we got a closer look, by the content of the paintings.

The climb wound around and because of the shape of the dome(8 sided instead of round), it was a little more interesting than some of the other towers we've been up. Having reached the top, and seen that we were indeed on the highest building there, we were not swayed by Greg's idea that when you see a tall building, mountain etc... you just have to climb it. We were all quite content to have a gelato or hot chocolate and wait for Greg whilst he scaled the bell tower however. (You can just see the top of it behind Greg and I.)

A funny girl.

Anyone who knows me and love me, would say that I am mischievous. Anyone who knows me but doesn't love me would probably just call me a pain in the butt. Okay truth be told, those who love me call me that too.

In fact, my mother's nickname for me is Jayne the Pain. Whether that's simply because my name conveniently rhymes with pain, or whether she considers that to be true, is a question I prefer to leave unanswered.

My father often used to say I was a "funny girl". But judging from his expression when he would say this, I don't think he meant funny ha-ha.

When you take all of this into consideration, it's funny that,I as a teenager used to roil in embarrassment at my father's antics.

I remember one prank gone wrong. Dad was pretending to cut off my cousin's plait only.... he got a bit carried away and did actually end up cutting her hair.

Fast forward to when I was in my 20's. I was feeling a bit down in the dumps for no good reason that I can recall. However what I do remember is mournfully wondering how come I seemed to have such an overdeveloped sense of mischief.

Like a gift from heaven, I came a cross a photo of my father. He was in the sea, pulling a funny face for the camera. I was flooded with joy. This was the reason I'm the way I am. I got it from my father.

Now that my father has passed on, I think fondly of him shaking his head and pronouncing the words which used to make me feel so mad, but not anymore. Because now I realise it's true. I am a funny girl.