03/27/26 Trip to Italy, Day 4, Friday, Venice to Florence

We headed out around 9 a.m. and got some breakfast in the train station. We played some games until it was time to go just at a table outside of the restaurant. We traveled from Venice to Florence by train… about 2 hours. It was really comfortable and nice and fun to watch the countryside go by. They even served soda and a snack on the train!

Upon arrival we dropped off our luggage at the travel agency. Found some food at a grocery store and ate on a bench on the street. The streets were sooo busy!

We then had a tour of the largest cathedral in Italy, Duomo, the crypt below and Kevin and Becky climbed the bell tower. Over 400 steps to a beautiful view of Florence.

Fun fact...every city in Italy has a Duomo - Duomo means the biggest (most important) chapel in that city.

We walked back to our place…and wow!! It’s on the fourth floor and it is awesome. Very spacious 2B3b with a washer. There was a little tiny elevator to go up to the apartment. It had windows so you could see out as you went up. The apartment was spectacular! Seriously. Very big nice bedrooms, kitchen, living room. A little laundry room with a washer/dryer unit in one. (Didn't actually get it to dry, but it said it could!)

We ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant…I think everyone was sick of pasta and pizza!! It was really good and just across the street from our room. There was lots going on around town so we walked around and got some breakfast items at the grocery store.

We headed back and played some games at the table and did some laundry.

Duomo in Florence

Bell Tower - 414 steps with NO railing!
Needless to say, Andy and I did NOT go up!

Florence

Duomo

Florence
Garbage/Recycle truck - pulls those
little containers out of the ground and dumps.
Super cool!

Shelly, Andy, Kevin & Becky
enjoying lunch on a bench in Florence

Shelly & Becky in Florence

Andy and Kevin in Florence

Andy in Florence

Duomo in Florence

And a backpack

Everything for 2 weeks in 2 bags

Comments

08/23/25 Organ

The Washington First Ward Building was sold to the City of Washington. Part of my responsibilities included dispensing of the organ and pianos in the building (along with other things). It is an Allen, approximately 1970s. I put the organ up on the auction. There were a couple of other people that were bidding on it, but I ultimately won the bid (for under $100). On the day I won the bid I was able to arrange a mover!!! I paid $250 to have someone from the piano store move it to our house (I have no idea how he managed to get that into the back bedroom....but he did it!!!) Then, it wouldn't work. 😭 I waited for approximately 6 weeks before a guy (who had to be 80 years old) came down from SLC and repaired the organ. (So the organ wasn't actually broken, it had to do with the electricity and the house talking nicely to one another.) It took him a couple of hours to figure it out. He charged about $200 and voila! I have a working church organ. Cool, eh? Now, I got...

06/27/25 Drew Ellerman's Retirement Party

Steve Whittekiend, Kelly Carlson in front Mayor Kress Staheli in back Thad Seegmiller back of head Police Chief Jason Williams, Councilman Troy Belliston Jordan Hess, Councilman Bret Henderson, Finance Brian Brown Mayor Kress Staheli and Councilman Craig Coats Danice Bulloch (former City Recorder), Shelly Griffin Hana Park and Tara Pentz (current recorders) April and Drew Ellerman April & Drew Ellerman, Kathy Spring (former assistant to Drew) Bonnie Baker (current assistant) and Drew Drew

03/28/26 Trip to Italy, Day 5, Saturday, Florence

We stopped at a local restaurant and got some breakfast tarts and then went to the Academia and saw the statue of David and had a tour. We returned to the same Restaurant and had panini sandwiches for lunch. Then we went to the Uffizi Museum for another tour. We had yummy gelato and took a rest for a while. We walked through the leather market and to a cool bridge. We walked around the city awhile into we came to a restaurant that was super cute and we ate outside. We had ravioli and pizza. We walked a bit more after dinner and then came back and played games. Academia Statue of David A bum shot Kevin and a cello One of the first pianos ever Early pianos Art in the Uffuzi The ceilings! Art in the Uffuzi Art in the Uffuzi Bridge of Sighs, Florence Shelly in the Bridge Florence Florence Andy and Shelly in the Uffuzi Art in the Uffuzi Florence Florence Trash bins in Florence Restaurant in Florence Outside in the street...so quaint! Restaurant in Florence Restaurant ...

Griffin Family

Search This Blog