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Published: October 1st 2008
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Florence - September 30
(Geoff) We were unable to go to either the Uffizi Museum or the Galleria Academia yesterday as they were shut for Monday. So we thought we would try to get into at least one today- the plan was to head towards the Ponte Vecchio and if the Uffizi queues were too long, we would continue across the river and check out the Palazzo Pitti (one of the many Medici palaces in Italy) and the Boboli gardens next door (also Medici heritage).
At 10:30, we casually sauntered down to the Piazza del Republica and on to the Uffizi, only to find that the queues for tickets was already 75 metres long, meaning a wait of at least 1 or 1&1/2 hours. Sorry but our time overseas is precious so we went to the Ponte Vecchio and headed across the river. Sue warned me that this was a dangerous time as there was a high likelihood that we would end up buying something here. I crossed my fingers and proceeded across the bridge as quickly as possible, still taking in the sights and checking out the shop fronts. Thankfully we made it across with wallets still intact.
From here it was a gentle stroll of about 200 metres to the Palazzo. Of course, we had to pay for entry to it and the gardens and there are different tickets for different parts of the palace and its exhibitions. We didn't want to spend the whole day there so selected the 10 Euro ticket (each) and then headed inside. We got to see about half the palace including an exhibition of clothes and jewellery from the late 16th century to the miniskirts of the 1960's. Quite amazing really and the work that went into the peacock clothing of the 18th century was stunning. Even a clod like myself appreciated the costumes.
Then it was time for the gardens - beautifully manicured lawns with sculptures everywhere and of course the obligatory Egyptian obelisk, this time mounted on the backs of four turtles. Turtles seem to be a theme of these gardens, maybe because of their association with longevity. At the end of our wander, we came across a beautiful little grotto that we heard was used as a getaway place when the weather got too hot. With a fountain going in the middle it would have been a great spot for a rest, a beer and a barbie!
At about 2:00 we headed back towards our hotel (the hotelier had let us leave our bags there and had offered the facilities of the hotel while we spent the day out and then headed to the train for Paris - very generous and greatly appreciated - he was a lovely bloke!!!) We found a wonderful little Trattoria just off the main street and enjoyed a fine lunch, then it was back across the Ponte Vecchio. We weren't so lucky this time as Sue found some booty and we headed back to the hotel with the wallets a little lighter. We lightened them even further when I found a linen shop with beautiful embroidery and Sue fell for a lovely table cloth and napkin set. I think shortly we may need an extra bag to carry our stuff!
Our train was due out at 8:45 so at 6:30 we called a taxi. Just as we did this, a tourist bus came down the end of the street and got itself stuck. The streets here are much too narrow for something that big and they had to call the Polizia Municipale to unlock the chains at the end of the street and let the bus out. Luckily it didn't take too long and our taxi arrived shortly afterwards.
Then it was the standard wait at the station, checking the departure board for our train to be listed. When it got to 8:30, we were starting to worry so I asked and got confirmation of the platform number and time so we and our luggage headed to the lift to move to our platform. Of course the lift wasn't working, so it was heft the bags down the stairs and the back up again. I'm sure they are getting heavier as we go!
The train arrives and we board, find our sleeper cabin, hoist our bags above the beds and organise ourselves for a quiet read before bed. Also a good opportunity to get out the PSP and refresh some of the French phrases we will need for the next week or so.
So for the last time, its Ciao from Italy - tomorrow we are in France!
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