We woke up this morning to a vastly increased police presence (about 50 more or less, including plain clothes officers) in riot gear (e.g. Helmuts, billy clubs, and shields). Sensing that something was going on, we went to investigate and got caught up (literally) in a student protest about wages and job opportunities (a rough estimate being about 500 students). After we took the picture of the front of the protest with the signs, we found ourselves surrounded by the students. As we were trying to work our way forward and out of the crowd some genius threw a couple of colored smoke bombs. Life got really interesting for a few moments. At the rear of the student protestors were what appeared to be older protestors (not sure if they were supporters of the protest or opposition). We finally got clear of the crowd safely and went on to visit the Uffizi, none the worse for the wear.
One day the streets are clogged with runners, the next they are clogged with protestors ....ahhh Florence.
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