It has been a great day in super hot Firenze (Florence). It kicked off with the breakfast saga, and then rolled out into the street. Just outside the hotel there are some lovely buildings. We caught the bus into the City, and a bargain at 4 Euro 70 for four tickets. When we got on the bus, you punched the ticket twice for two people and that allowed you to be on any bus for up to 90 minutes from the time that the ticket was stamped.
We stayed on the number 14 and went through Firenze Bus Terminal and out the other side on a circular route past the hospital. Almost exactly 1.5 hours after we began we arrived back at the Bus Terminal and got off. The sightseeing bus is 22 Euro each. And we just saw Florence for 1 Euro 20 each. And we managed to have a lovely chat with a Libyan chap and his lovely Indian wife. They spoke; Italian, Hindu, and Arabic as well as local dialects specific to the area of India and the area in Libya. No wonder he had a good job in the medical profession and owned homes in three countries. Now we wouldn’t have had that experience on the staged tours.
We ambled through the city and broke open our picnic from the local bakery. Their English is not so good, but we manage to communicate well enough to stock up each morning. If you stay at Hotel Grifone in Firenze then check out the small bakery about 60 metres away. Today’s feast was essential water, open strong cheese pizza slice for Pauline. My choice was a closed pizza slice; with a middle layer of cheese and ham. An olive bread roll for me and cardoman seed bread to share. Oh, and an apple.
We did quite well financially. Pauline pressed on past one stall where I was going to buy and saved a few euro at the next one. The trader thought that we were in a negotiation and dropped his price further. In fact in the end he knocked some more off and said, “there, a coffee for you, and a coffee for you”. If you are in Firenze and you see his stall (photo) check it out and buy his stuff.
We saved another 10 Euro further on, and dinner came in at 12 Euro less than we expected. We did the ‘thin Centurion’ thing again. Spaghetti with tomato and basil was my choice. Whereas Pauline enjoyed a first course of what can only be described as the perfect Lasagne. Second course for Pauline was a delicious piece of chicken in a lovely white wine sauce. And I went for the Sole and Potatoes. The lady finished the meal with Italian ice cream, and I enjoyed the fruit salad. The beer and water was also good. But for the first time in a long time, I witnessed Pauline having a drink. She summed it up nicely with “why have coke, if you can have a large glass of wine for the same price?”
It’s great to be back in the air conditioned room to Blog away and enjoy another beer. The Lady from India mentioned that it was 40 degrees recently and no one could do anything. I’m glad that it’s not that hot, but it certainly is warm. And we have another two weeks to go.
European touring important points:
Check the hotel location if travelling by train as we seen many tourists lugging a suitcase behind them in the midday sun
Today’s important points were:
City breaks are expensive
A hundred metres outside the tourist area and prices drop
A supermarket is far cheaper
Don't buy the first thing that you see
