Florence, or Firenze, you choose. Whichever it is promise yourself you must see it.
Slept really well last night. I think the beer and vino helped. This little hotel is really friendly. Right in the middle of the old centre. Five minutes from the Duomo and a short stroll to the Ponti Vechia. We managed to get our washing sorted this morning.
At breakfast the manager told us that the hotel is six hundred years old and was originally a monastery.
Crispy being a little psychiatric, er I mean psychic denies the presence of any spirits or mad monks prowelling the corridors in the dead of night so I'm not too worried.
Up early and a quick breakfast before once again setting out to see the sights. We can see the church of the Medicci from the hotel so our first port of call was easy. From there it was a pleasant stroll to all the places of interest. The Duomo is fantastic. Mind blowingly big and incredibly beautiful. Its free entry which is unusual as its the biggest tourist attraction here. The must see sight if your ever lucky enough to get here. The only problem is that everyone and his dog want to go in. This was complicated by the fact that it is Sunday and masses are being held all morning. As such the church, excuse me, Basillica is closed to tourists until 13:30. We decided that we would return later in the day to try again.
From the Duomo we headed past several other important churches, chapels and cloisters to the Ponti Vechio. The Ponti is quite a sight. The oldest bridge in Florence and historically the centre of the gold and jewellery trade. Shops and houses have been built on the bridge for centuries. It reminds me of descriptions of the old London bridge before it burned down in antiquity.
On the bridge we passed a jewellers selling Patek Phillipe watches. It has always been a dream of mine to have one of these but they are crazy money and I don't think I ever will. There were no prices on them but you could make an appointment to go and view them in the security controlled private lounge. Being on a budget and only having 20 euros on us at the time we didn't bother. Crispy spotted a diamond ring in the same shop window. I am no expert but I guess that it must have been 6 carot or more. She had a right paddy because she couldn't have it and didn't calm down until I bought her an ice cream. Gluten free of course.
I thought I would have to slap her legs at one point but as soon as she had her strawberry gelato in hand she settled down.
From the bridge we walked around the town on the opposite side of the river. Its a great place medieval piazza, small cobbled streets and on every corner trattatori and gelato shops. We had lunch in one small piazza where they were holding a car boot sale. Crispy spotted a few things she liked but as we are travelling light we had no room to carry them. One item she really wanted was an old Florentine walnut chair. It was as big as a throne and I told her she could have it if she really really wanted it but that she would have to carry it around the rest of Italy. This calmed her down and avoided the potential of another slapped legs scenario. This is why I prefer travelling in Asia. There are no shops in Jungles.
On the way back to the hotel Crispy bumped into an old friend and spent ages catching up. The conversation seemed a little one way to me but Its a small world after all.
After several hours we once more returned to try and get into the Duomo. The waiting line was at the 2 hour point with 30 mins to go before it closed for the day. You do the math. A young American tour guide approached us and said she could get us in the Duomo immediately for thirty euro if we bought the 45 minute guided tour. It was 15:30. The church closes at 16:00 and the tour was 45 minutes minimum. Again you do the math.
We plan to set off for the train station earlier tomorrow and see if we can get a whirlwind view of the inside of the place before setting of for Naples.
It is the longest journey tomorrow. Florence to Rome Termini and another train to Naples. Once in Naples we need to get the commuter train to Sorrento.
We are looking forward to being at the seaside. I hope Crispy has packed her Bikini.
On the roof garden now before showering and setting off out on the town for cocktails and dinner. How very civilised.
Bare and Crispy signing off from Florence, Italy
Slept really well last night. I think the beer and vino helped. This little hotel is really friendly. Right in the middle of the old centre. Five minutes from the Duomo and a short stroll to the Ponti Vechia. We managed to get our washing sorted this morning.
At breakfast the manager told us that the hotel is six hundred years old and was originally a monastery.
Crispy being a little psychiatric, er I mean psychic denies the presence of any spirits or mad monks prowelling the corridors in the dead of night so I'm not too worried.
Up early and a quick breakfast before once again setting out to see the sights. We can see the church of the Medicci from the hotel so our first port of call was easy. From there it was a pleasant stroll to all the places of interest. The Duomo is fantastic. Mind blowingly big and incredibly beautiful. Its free entry which is unusual as its the biggest tourist attraction here. The must see sight if your ever lucky enough to get here. The only problem is that everyone and his dog want to go in. This was complicated by the fact that it is Sunday and masses are being held all morning. As such the church, excuse me, Basillica is closed to tourists until 13:30. We decided that we would return later in the day to try again.
From the Duomo we headed past several other important churches, chapels and cloisters to the Ponti Vechio. The Ponti is quite a sight. The oldest bridge in Florence and historically the centre of the gold and jewellery trade. Shops and houses have been built on the bridge for centuries. It reminds me of descriptions of the old London bridge before it burned down in antiquity.
On the bridge we passed a jewellers selling Patek Phillipe watches. It has always been a dream of mine to have one of these but they are crazy money and I don't think I ever will. There were no prices on them but you could make an appointment to go and view them in the security controlled private lounge. Being on a budget and only having 20 euros on us at the time we didn't bother. Crispy spotted a diamond ring in the same shop window. I am no expert but I guess that it must have been 6 carot or more. She had a right paddy because she couldn't have it and didn't calm down until I bought her an ice cream. Gluten free of course.
I thought I would have to slap her legs at one point but as soon as she had her strawberry gelato in hand she settled down.
From the bridge we walked around the town on the opposite side of the river. Its a great place medieval piazza, small cobbled streets and on every corner trattatori and gelato shops. We had lunch in one small piazza where they were holding a car boot sale. Crispy spotted a few things she liked but as we are travelling light we had no room to carry them. One item she really wanted was an old Florentine walnut chair. It was as big as a throne and I told her she could have it if she really really wanted it but that she would have to carry it around the rest of Italy. This calmed her down and avoided the potential of another slapped legs scenario. This is why I prefer travelling in Asia. There are no shops in Jungles.
On the way back to the hotel Crispy bumped into an old friend and spent ages catching up. The conversation seemed a little one way to me but Its a small world after all.
After several hours we once more returned to try and get into the Duomo. The waiting line was at the 2 hour point with 30 mins to go before it closed for the day. You do the math. A young American tour guide approached us and said she could get us in the Duomo immediately for thirty euro if we bought the 45 minute guided tour. It was 15:30. The church closes at 16:00 and the tour was 45 minutes minimum. Again you do the math.
We plan to set off for the train station earlier tomorrow and see if we can get a whirlwind view of the inside of the place before setting of for Naples.
It is the longest journey tomorrow. Florence to Rome Termini and another train to Naples. Once in Naples we need to get the commuter train to Sorrento.
We are looking forward to being at the seaside. I hope Crispy has packed her Bikini.
On the roof garden now before showering and setting off out on the town for cocktails and dinner. How very civilised.
Bare and Crispy signing off from Florence, Italy
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