We began in Florence. My cousin, Nora, met up with us and we explored. The Duomo, Basilica and Baptistry were all right there in front of me and awesome to take in. I stood for a long time in front of Michelangelo's David. I had dreamed of seeing David for years and it is amazing to study the size and detail in person. Everything is so old certainly compared to California that I found it hard to comprehend the timeline. The skill levels of the artisans are also so off the charts that I was overwhelmed.