It was raining lightly in Florence this morning.   We spent a few hours at the Mercado Centrale.   It is one of the great food markets of the world.   The beef, fish, fruit and Tuscan foods are all gathered under one roof.  Olive oil, wine, cheeses, sausages.   This is where to go if you really want to eat - and we did.

Outside the building is an open-air market with vendors mostly selling fine leather wallets, hand bags, and belts.   They are very good bargains and the merchants are willing to bargain.   We picked up belts a handbag and some nice ceramic items.   The market is not to be missed if you visit Florence.

We took a bus tour into the heart of the Chianti region.   The slow and leisurly climb up to the mountaintop castle, where they have been making wines for hundreds of years was nothing short of spectacular.   The castle itself has been handed down from generation to generation.  We had the opportunity to visit the gardens in the sky and overlook the acres and acres of vines and olive trees.   They literally extended as far as the eye could see.   It was a beautiful sight to behold.

We tasted some of the finest wines of Chianti.   It was fun to mingle and talk with others - some of whom we found once lived only miles from us in the United States.

The drive was about 40 minutes back to Florence where we were met with a downpour.  We snuck into a little restaurant for a glass of vino and a dish of riboletti.   Ah, the Tuscan life.