When traveling to someplace new, the first glimpse of that location is often out of the window of a plane. There is nothing like the excitement that you feel when you hear the plane going into the final approach of your destination. As the ground gets closer and the various sights come closer into view, it becomes a reality that you are about to see a new place that you haven’t visited before. Often the landscape looks the same as other places you may have gone to before, but there is always something different about this new city or country as it comes into view. For this week’s Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge, we are sharing some photos from recent flights and our first views of cities.
Landing in Frankfurt, GermanyFlying over La Paz, BoliviaFlying over the Mountains of Northern ItalyGetting Ready to Land in Vienna, AustriaOur First Glimpse of GreeceFlying into Cochabamba, Bolivia
When visiting Florence, Italy, taking the time to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo is an absolute must. There is obviously the bronze replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David, but the real reason is the see the breathtaking views of the city. From the square, there are panoramic views of everything from the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, to the hillsides outside of Florence.
View of the DuomoReplica of DavidHillsides in the DistanceEnjoying the View
We were there during the off-season, so the crowds were light, but we can only imagine how crowded the square must be during the summer. There are plenty of vendors selling food and souvenirs as well as a full service restaurant where you can sit down and enjoy a nice glass of wine. Florence is one of the most beautiful, old-world cities and seeing it from the piazza really allows you to fully appreciate how stunning it truly is.
Old Wall Around the CityNot Too Many TouristsPonte VecchioFlorence
It is not an easy walk to reach the Piazzale Michelangelo, but it is more than worth the effort. Seeing Florence from the heights above the city was definitely a highlight of our visit. Of course we enjoyed walking the narrow streets, looking up at the Duomo, and seeing the amazing architecture up close, but seeing the whole city at once was even more spectacular. Everyone visiting Florence should definitely put this on their itinerary.
Panoramic ViewWalking Up to the PiazzaThe Arno River
