Hello from Firenze

We set out from Zurich yesterday morning at 8.30am and yes that meant another dawn witnessed. The trip through the alps was pretty uneventful on the swiss side, everything as it should be. Then we crossed over and all those surpressed memories of our previous trip to Italy came flooding back, including why we couldn't wait to leave the place LOL. The first thing you notice is the state of chaos that everything seems to exist in, and that came as a big shock after Zurich.

The Milan railway station was sort of working, well bits were, but couldn't quite work which bits, but anyway we did find our train and it was one of the Eurostars and very impressive it was.

This is it in all its glory waiting for our arrival, which very nearly didnt happen as they only put the notice on the departure board 5 minutes before it was due to go, so no leisurely wander down the platform here. Once on board the trip was good, cruised at 303klms per hour and did the Milan - Florence in just under  2 hours. The first class catering was special. The announcement for drinks, snacks and savouries service had our attention as we hadn't eaten all day and the swiss train didn't have a restaurant car and the Milan debarcle meant there was no time there to change money and seek out food.

The trolley arrived, stale peanuts, stale cake, water (tap) wine with no label and then it was gone - still hungry. LOL  Eventually we arrived and headed  off by foot to our hotel. Directions obtained from the local paper man turned out to be totally incorrect and we were walking in the wrong direction so a cab was hailed and off to hotel Pendini we went.  Hotel is fine, bigger room than the waldorf but really do miss a fridge and coffee making things.

We headed out this morning for the first full days touring and were greeted by an amazing sight. Florence is very very very very busy, it's high season and everyone is here. But, considering the numbers things sort of work out. First thing you notice is the traffic.

There are lots and lots of small vehicles of all shapes and sizes and like all good Italians they park whereever they fit.

You will remember from previous blogs the fascination with clocks the swiss have, well the Italians wont be outdone on that one either,

it's sad, negleted and unloved and unfortunately outside of the tourist areas this was not an uncommon site. Derelict and abandoned buildings, public gardens left to look after themseleves and now resemble weed enclosures.

Back to Firenze, The old city is wonderful, the architecture is astounding and there are marvels around every corner.

The star of the show is the Palazzo Vecchio, truly a marvel with all the statues and fountains surrounding it and the Muesem Uffizi right next door is a wonder of 15th - 18th century art. Yes, Leonardo, Michangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens and Carravagios adorn the walls along with thousands of other works.
We were lucky and got there at 9.45am and managed to score tickets for the 10.30 entry so the masses hadn't invaded yet.

Back in the early 1500's they obviously had some housing problems and the government of the day decided to utilize wasted space on the main bridge over the river. I'm sure there was no planning permit system back there - wouldn't happen today LOL. Good place for a restaurant Dean, are you doing anything ?

The whole center of the city is a maze of twisting and turning alleys and most have the most wonderful bars and cafes, plus the compulsory tourist shops.

Lastly today we climbed to the terraces of the Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore. Now most of you will know that getting me anywhere near a cliff is out of the question so this was very very very very stupid, ooops I mean brave of me. Firstly you climb up a staircase that is enclosed and so that was fine, then you walk out along a walkway about 8ft wide along side the cathedral on the outside - getting my attention now, finally you walk along a walkway at the front of the cathedral with thousands watching and taking pictures. Let's just say the walkway was about a foot wide, very very very high up and along way down.
I had Ron stationed behind and crabbed my way along with out once looking at the view, all I saw were my feet, but hey I did it. The pic above is from the internal part of the walkway and I did look for this one but was firmly holding on to the rail 8 feet from the balcony edge LOL.

Chow for now.