Train trip from Venice to Florence was fast and full, the train is the Rome express stopping at only a few places along the way. The express bit is right, the tv screen at one point showed the train speed at 246 km/h .
Getting into Florence and hit the wall of heat getting off – temp was about 35 C, but it’s a realtively dry heat so bearable. Taxi ride through the heart of the city was short and driver managed to avoid all the pedestrians and bicycles meandering across the roads.
Our host was waiting for us and got us settled straight in. A short walk to get some lunch and supplies for dinner then back to unpack. Nerida and I then went out for a walk, leaving Dana behind to soak up the AirCon.
We walked the all of 200m to the Ufussi, then down and across the Pont Vecchio with all it’s tasteless jewelery, then along to the next bridge and back to the main side of the Arno.
We walked up to the dome passing stores for nearly every major fashion beand you care to name (plus some I hadn’t heard of). The dome itself is almost beyond description with how elaborately it is decorated – is truly amazing.
We then started to wander back, heading past innumerable leather stores, will be hard to pick just one jacket I think. Back to the apartment and enjoying the A/C colling down from the heat – then a simple home cooked pasta for dinner.
It having cooled off to all of 33 C, but the sun dipping low, we took Dana up to the Ufussi and Pont Vecchio – though most of the shops are now closed up tight. A short wander then back.
Free entertainment for us tonight with a Jazz band playing at a bar just down the street from us – not bad though a little fast at times. Closing up the windows and shutters and is quiet enough to sleep.
Got woken about 2am with a power cut and the alarms going off at the shops in the parallel street – though Nerida and Dana slept through it. When we got up our lights were still out as the master circuit breaker had tripped – but easily fixed.
Off on a guided walking tour today of the Acamemia and Ufussi which will take most of the day. Will be very hot (38 forecast) for the walk between the two.
