No It Is Not A Christmas Tree

So today was my first full day with Mom and Tom. I started my day without them, however, at the lab getting blood work done. I needed to check my platelets and INR again to determine what I should do about getting a treatment on Monday. It looks like I am going to be having a treatment and miss my first day back to classes. After I went and got my blood drawn I came home and took a shower. Right before I took the shower Mom called and said they were ready to go out. They decided to go to Santa Croce since I had been there already with Dara and would meet up with me at noon. So I met them outside the Duomo at noon and we decided to go inside. I have been in the Duomo once before a few years ago when I came to Florence with CCC but it was a very quick visit. I was glad to go in and have some time to look around and take pictures. I was surprised because we did not have to pay to go in and I was told that there was a charge to go inside the church. As we walked around Mom suddenly said "Look at the Christmas tress." They were the candles to light when you say a prayer in memory of someone. We light one for Stephanie because Mom thought she would like that, I think she would too. After lighting the candle we went downstairs. The Duomo is a giant church that was actually built on top of another church that was discovered many years later. So we went down and saw the other church, which is also where Brunelleschi's tomb is, he is the person who built the dome. After the Duomo I took Mom and Tom to see the Central Market where the you can buy meat, fish, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Next we were very hungry and Mom wanted a good panino so I took her to my favorite snack bar across the street from SACI. She and Tom agreed that the panini were very good. After the delicious lunch we walked through the market with the intent of buying me a leather bag from Guiseppe, the guy Dara bought her jacket from. He remembered me and helped me pick out a nice leather laptop bag. As I was looking at my bag Mom found a purse she liked as well. So we both left the store with a bag that we each love for a great deal. After our little shopping spree we went into San Lorenzo church since it is right next to the market. We wanted to go into the Medici Chapels but they had just closed for the day. We walked around for a long time in there and the church was beautiful. The ceilings had gold leaf or at least gold paint on them, like nothing I had seen before. After walking around the church we went to the museum that was attached to it. Here we got to see Donatello's tomb and Cosimo Medici's tomb. We next went into a another room with a bunch or religious things and reliquaries.  These bothered me a lot because you could actually see the bones. There was one that had part of a finger in it, once I realized this I was so creeped out I had to leave and wait next to Donatello for Mom and Tom. After we left we went to get gelati and coffee. Mom and I ended up getting a fruit thing and coffee which were all good. After this we tried to go into the Baptistry but we needed to buy tickets and they had stopped selling them for the day. So since that idea was shut down rather quickly we went to the Academia. You are not allowed to take pictures in here, but I took 2 pictures of the David without getting caught. We walked around for a little while then bought a few things in the store and left. Mom and Tom went to the hotel to rest before dinner and I came home. I was having trouble with out internet, so I uploaded Dark Knight, which Mom brought me, onto my laptop. By the time I was done with this and fighting with my internet Mom called me to meet them for dinner. We ate at this nice ristorante. Our waiter was a very nice and funny and the food was great. My stomach was not hurting too bad so I could actually eat and enjoy it. So after dinner I just came home and here we are. I am tired so I might go to bed a little early, or maybe not because I can sleep in tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to another great day with Mom and Tom tomorrow.