My Around Europe in a Week trip

Well this particular story should start onboard the boat. We had been at sea for about two weeks after our trip to Antalya, Turkey. We were all set to pull into Livorno when the weather started getting rough. This ended up resulting in the need to not pull in until the next day. We thought our plans were dashed as you can do somethings in Europe in seven days that six is just too hard. But we pulled yet another wonderful scam and were on our way off the boat that day in a helicopter that afternoon. You see, we had told everyone we were going to visit Mike's sister in Scotland that week and had an airline reservation. I love it when a plan comes together.
So we finally arrived at the airbase/airport in Livorno about 230 in the afternoon. It was a nice flight and we were so thrilled we were getting away with it. We made our way by bus over to the train station after finding out that an airticket would be far too expensive. Finally we decided it was best to head for Florence and make our decisions from there. So an hour later we were pulling back into the familiar sights of the main station in Florence.
Every time I come to this city it brings back such great memories. This was my second time there and even then I was just as excited as the first. As we got off the train the first thing we did was head to the ticket office in the corner. We needed to know when the next train to Amsterdam was and what it would cost us. Always an adventure at the ticket window we got our reservations for that night on the 1:20 am to Basel and on to Amsterdam. Being that it was about 430pm it was off on the town we go.
We toured around here and there mostly between the train station and the duomo. Stopped in a pub here and a pub there. Did a little shopping, I needed a belt after not eating navy food for a few months. Finally it was about 10pm and we decided to go looking for what was described to us as the holy grail of hangouts for expats and students in Florence. Stonehenge. So we walked around where we heard it to be. Finally just about to give up we started back to the train station. Duck down this street. Cut through this alley. Mike says "Whats it supposed to look like?" I come back with "A big black door that looks like its for a horse barn and a little red sign the size of a bumper sticker." Well to that Mike exclaims "I found it!"
We made our way inside and signed up for the manditory membership. it wasnt very crowded yet as it had just opened 20 minutes before but had a few people in it. We were just hanging out until midnight or so when we would make our way back for our train. Sometime soon a birthday party rolled in and we ended up pushing it until 1245. then we made our way to the train station, retrieved our bags and went to the proper track. Well noone told us/we didnt understand if they did that our train had switched departure tracks. So at 130am when the station closed we were told of what happened and asked to leave. We ended up walking around and asked about the charge for a night at several hotels but decded it wasnt worth $150 USD for about 5 hours that we needed the room. This is why and how I slept on the front steps of the train station in Florence in February.
The next morning Mike found the strength and will to take care of switching our tickets and finding us a new train to Holland. Then it was a quick breakfast from that traveller's hell for food, McDonalds. We took this on the train with us and began our journey.
Continued in Basel

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