Second time in Florence

In my last two blogs, I told you all about my trip to Rome with Missus and Dad. Well, on the way back home to Lodi, we stopped-off to spend a few nights in Dad's favourite city - Florence. 

This was my second trip to Florence and we decided to stay in the same hotel as last time. To my pleasant surprise, some of the hotel staff still remembered me from my previous visit! I was given a very warm welcome at the Reception. They treated me like a VIP (Very Important Pooch)!

Here I am with Barbara, a booti-ful lady working at the Reception who definitely remembered me from last time. (I think she was quite smitten by me!). Barbara also has a golden retriever - her name is Roubaix!

Our hotel room overlooked the Arno river. Dad found a great place across the river to let me run off leash during our morning walks. Can you see us?

Let's take a look around the city...

Me and Missus with a view down the Arno.

This time, the bridge in the background is the world-famous 'Ponte Vecchio'. We decided to take a closer look...

...and here we are on the bridge itself.

Me and Dad.

Next, we checked out the area around the Duomo.

The buildings in the background (from left to right) are the Baptistry, the Duomo and the Camponile.

Here we are in front if the 'Pitti Palazzo'.

I occasionally stopped to make some new friends. (I'm the golden at the top of the photo).

Back to the sights...

...We finally made our way into the Piazza della Signoria. Behind us are the huge marble statues of Neptune, David and Hercules.

Just in time to look for a pleasant cafe in the Piazza...

...and to stop for a nice refreshing cuppa!

Enough of the still photos. Let me (and Dad) take you on a walking tour around Florence...

Roma (Without Homer)

Remember in my last post I told you about my recent visit to Rome? Well, Missus took a number of photographs in which Yours Truly wasn't in the picture. Here's a few of them...

The facade of the Pantheon.

Next, some shots from inside the Vatican Museum...

This is the 'Sphere within Sphere' by Arnaldo Pomodoro.

And here's a close-up.

The head from a statue of Caesar Augustus.

Looking up into one of the cupolas within the museum.

An extravagantly painted ceiling.

This elaborate ceiling stretches along the corridor of the Gallery of Maps.

Look at the magnificent detail!

The famous painting: 'School of Athens' by Raphael. Missus loves this work.

A little 'perspective'!

Next, St. Peter's Square...

This is the Square at twilight.

The cloisters surrounding the Square...

... and a view of St. Peter's Basilica from the Square.

On the way to the Basilica is the Bronze Door with one of the Swiss Guards on duty.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica.

The cathedral was massive and very booti-ful.

Next stop...

...the Colosseum by night.

This picture has Capitoline Hill in the distance.

And finally, Piazza Navona.

That's all from Rome, but we stopped-off in another city afterwards. I'll tell you all about my time there later.

For now, Happy Valentine's Day.

Homer in Roma - The Sequel

You may remember that last summer I visited Rome with my humans and my Grandma. Well, I thought it was about time that I made another trip to the 'Eternal City'...

Here I am settling into my hotel room. As you can see, I had my own room adjoining my humans' bedroom.

Without further ado, let me show you my sight-seeing photos.

First of all, we stopped by the Trevi Fountain.

The monument behind me is 'Trajan's Column'.

Here's Missus and me in front of the massive Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Me and Dad on 'The Cordonata' steps, which were designed by Michelangelo. I bet 'George the Lad' wishes he was there - he loves steps! (By the way, I really wanted to have a picture of me with 'Flat George the Lad' on the Spanish Steps as part of his world tour. Unfortunately, we couldn't find anywhere to print his picture. Sorry George!)

At the top of 'The Cordonata' is Michelangelo's 'Piazza del Campidoglio'. Here we are standing in front of the statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Wait a minute... didn't he play a big part in the movie 'Gladiator'? I bet he wouldn't like to have a fight with me...

... see what I mean? "I am Homeus Maximus, still a loyal servant to Missus Caesar and much, much better looking than Russell Crowe!"

Sorry, I got carried away. Back to the sight-seeing...

Me and Dad looking down on the Roman Forum.

Isn't it fantastic?

The structure behind us is the 'Arch of Septimius Severus'.

Next, we made our way down to the Pantheon. Here's yours truly and Missus.

Dad wanted to enjoy a quick beer...

...unfortunately, his quick beer lasted a bit longer than expected! We had to take in the Colosseum by night light.

By the time we reached Piazza Navona, I was 'dog-tired'. (But not as grumpy as this art seller.)

I couldn't wait to make it back to my hotel bed. Night - night. Zzzzz...