Woke up feeling pretty excited cos today is the day I get to give my credit card a workout. After a quick breakfast and some time spent figuring out our directions, we drove to the Prada outlet at Montevarchi. We only managed to arrive at the outlet after stopping at 2 petrol stations to ask for directions - and each time before A could ask the question, the kiosk staff would pre-empt him and ask if he was looking for Prada outlet. Seems like all tourists visit this town with the same purpose.
We would have totally missed the Prada outlet if not for the directions given. For some reason, it was called Space outlet and there were no Prada signs anywhere. Even the paper bags were Space bags. The outlet was huge and full of people. I reckon Asians made up 50% of the shoppers. I concentrated mainly on the bag section and made up my mind after about 90 mins - the damage was 3 bags.
Next, we went to The Mall at Reggello. This was a huge shopping area with numerous brand outlets. I was pretty focused and zoomed straight into Gucci, Ferragamo, Bottega, Prada (again!) and just for fun, other brands such as Dior and Burberry. Gucci had a good selection of items though I am not a Gucci fan. The shoes at Ferragamo were in odd sizes so I didnt buy any shoes even though I liked some of the off-season designs. Bottega had some nice designs, but very pricey even at the outlets - I was eyeing a huge red bag that was selling at a discounted price of 1,890 Euros! The Prada outlet was much smaller than the one at Space, and was jammed with people. We had to wait 15min outside the store (under the scorching sun) before we were let into the store.
For most of the stores, the designs carried were obviously from previous seasons, and came in odd colours and designs that one probably would not purchase. It seems that the classic designs, being evergreen designs, would never make their way to the outlet stores. Nevertheless, I had fun window shopping - it's not everyday that I have the guts to walk into several high-end shops in a day. It was also not a wasted trip as I left the place about 3 hours later with a yummy slice of pizza in my tummy and a gorgeous new wallet :)
After the massive shopping exercise, we returned our rented Ford Fiasco at the Hertz outlet in Florence (or Firenze in Italian). We then took a cab to our hotel.
We stayed at NH Porta Rossa, which had a great location, being located within walking distance from many museums, tourist spots. It was also right next to the shopping belt - I was excited cos my shopping antennae have been activated after the initial shopping experience at the outlets.
Other than its central location, our hotel is done up pretty nicely too. The lobby has an old fashioned feel with wooden panels, a stained glass ceiling, and other traditional finishes. In contrast, the room is done up with a modern touch. White is the theme of the room, with clean white sheets, lamps, cupboards, tables, and even a white TV! The hanging lamp in the middle of the room looks like inverted wine glasses and the room feels cosy (A thinks the room is a little small, but I think it is fine), modern, and new. No doubt this would be my favorite accommodation from this holiday. In the toilet, I love how the brightly colored toiletries set in one corner contrast against the grey walls. The mirror is framed within silver boundaries, there is a great rain shower, and finally, clear shower panels.
After settling down in the hotel, we headed straight to the shopping belt - today is shopping day! When we were in Ferragamo, A noticed that almost all the shoppers were Asians - in fact all the customers trying on shoes are Asians, and there was a pair of Japanese ladies trying on at least 8 pairs of shoes. Wow, is there a major Saldi for Ferragamo shoes? I don't see any Saldi signs though.
After a quick shopping trip to 2 shops, I emerged with a lighter wallet and paper bags containing 2 pairs of shoes, a bag and a purse (a gift). I was delighted with my buys, particularly since I have been eyeing the bag for a long, long time, but held off purchasing the bag as it had a higher price tag in Singapore. The great incentive in purchasing in Italy is the 12% tax rebate for purchases above 150 Euros - so it can be pretty difficult to resist shopping in Italy, particularly if you are a fan of Italian brands. However, I also felt slightly guilty with my splurge and decided I had shopped enough for the day - lucky thing most shops had closed for the day too.
It was just slightly after 7pm, but thanks to the long days in summer, the sky was still bright and we strolled around a little. We walked towards the Piazza Della Signoria, the heart of the city, and it was brimming with people. The sun was just setting and it was the perfect timing to photograph the numerous statutes in the Piazza, including the huge water fountain (which is supposedly ugly to many locals) and a copy of Michelangelo's David located just outside Palazzo Vecchio. We then walked towards Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge where gold is sold. The bridge was lined with jewellery shops, and when we arrived, the shopkeepers were just winding down for the day. It was interesting to see how the shops were being locked up. Mostly, huge locks were used and there were thick wooden panels pulled down to protect the windows so that no glass is visible from the outside.
We had a late dinner (8+pm) at L'Osteria De Giovanni where we were served salty fried dough (reminds me of my favourite you tiao) prior to our main course. A had juicy milk-fed veal chop which was excellent, and my beef stew was so-so. The portions were huge, and our stomachs were so full from the mains that there were no room for dessert.
Overall, Florence is a lovely city filled with culture and beautiful architecture. Can't wait to explore more over the next few days!
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