Florence Day 2

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After a quick breakfast we made our way to the office of One World Apartments. The huge wooden front door was open this time so in we went, up the stairs read the plaques on the wall but none that indicated One World. Back tracked to outside and rang the bell a lady answered and they were there just under a different name. A guy on the footpath shouted out to us "Just up the stairs on the right and then turn right. As we were talking to the receptionist about the previous evening the guy from the footpath came in and sat down. At about this time we had been through what went on last night. They had left the directions to our apartment and keys inside the front door in a security box. Great if we knew it was there and could get past the front door. We enquired about a refund for the previous nights stuff up and the receptionist said we'd have to talk to Luca, he was the boss and would be here in a little while, possible 5-10 minutes as we were told he had an appointment with the guy on the pavement (We learnt that his name was Benito later on). We sat and waited and spoke with Benito. He was an artist he told us and was going to Madrid tomorrow, back to his home land to paint and live. He had an apartment in Florence and wanted to rent it out and that is why he was here to speak with Luca. Luca walked in at this stage and very quickly saw us and discussed the previous nights debarcle. We'd have to take the refund issue up with wotif not him and yes we could cancel the whole booking nps (we would have stayed where we were at the hotel). I asked if the 72 hr refund policy would come into play (you have to give them 72hrs notice if you wanted to cancel) he said "Of course" I said "We are not that silly!" That sorted we were back with the receptionist collected our keys, Ciao, Ciao to Benito and off we went back to the hotel to check out.


With our bags packed we dragged them to the nearest corner to hail a cab. Five passed us very quickly all full so R went to find one for us heading in the direction that the cabs were coming from.


Now I have to take a bit of a side track here. When we were in Madrid and I also noticed this in Paris, I had seen a couple of people twice in different parts of the cities. I'd said to R "What are the odds of seeing the same person twice in a huge city?" We agreed fairly slim and compared it to 6 degrees of separation, etc. Now back to Florence...


R turned up in a cab fairly quickly and the driver was out piling in our luggage saying buon giorno, buon giorno! The Italians are way more animated than the French portraying a happier, friendlier feel I think. Through the winding narrow streets of Florence and soon the driver pointed out our apartment building and as he did I notice Benito walking by. (You knew there was a reason I mentioned seeing the same person twice thingy didn't you?!) I yelled out "There's that guy" "What guy?" R asked. "The guy from the office, yell out to him, tell him to stop!" So the driver yells out "Stop!!!" to no-one in particular, we were in stitches laughing and I said "No...quickly to him, tell him to wait please!" He yelled "Stop 2 women want you" whilst pulling up the car, I've slid my door open and climbed out. Beneto noticed the commotion but couldn't make out who was in the back of the car. Soon as he recognised us we were all like long lost friends! With the cab paid we were crossed the tiny street to the apartment building. We were on the 3rd floor and no elevators! Benito said he'd help us up the stairs which he did. I was so grateful as my laptop was in my bag and combined with all my clothes etc my bag weighed a ton. Our 1st impression of the apartment was great, large with all that we needed (except a washing machine...oh well) and a fantastic view from the windows. (I later learn via a map that the dome we can see is the Duomo!) Benito asked us if we wanted to come and check out his apartment. He already told us about it that it was 500 years old and he'd been renovating it for the past 4 months and it was only a 2 minute walk from ours. "Sure" we said and arrived moments later. He'd certainly done a great job it looked fantastic keeping as much of the old as possible and blending it with the new. We spent the next hour or so at his tiny kitchen table with a typical Florence view out over a courtyard (He is also on the 3rd floor) and roof tops. He had a huge painting of his on one of the walls which prompted us to asked if he had anymore we could see. He paints in a contemporary style and yes he had some pics of his work on his laptop. He took us through his work, most he had painted when he was in Vancouver, Canada when he was there on a scholarship and we both found them really interesting, some really beautiful pieces. Some of his friends turned up to see him to spend the afternoon with him before he leaves for Madrid tomorrow, We leave them to it all the better from having a "chance?" meeting with Benito.


Back to our apartment for a quick peruse to check it out and then to a local café for a Panini and to sample the gelato. I think quite a bit of sampling will be going on in the next few weeks!


Our apartment is located right at the central markets in Florence where there are leather goods galore. Handbags in every shape and colour imaginable, belts, jackets, etc. We could easily have filled up our suitcases with bags alone and I know when I am shopping for a bag at home it takes me weeks to find one…here I could buy a few from each stall! And would you believe it bumped into Beneto and his friends yet again!


Once we’d had enough of wandering, back to the apartment again and time for some
unpacking and washing…by hand. This reminded me of living in Africa for the first few months, fortunately I only have myself to take care of on this trip.


We headed out for an early dinner, well 7.30pm which is early here for dinner. We had spoken with a lady on a stall at the markets about many different things one of which was food and where would she recommend. Good Italian food with few tourists…more like where would she eat? She pointed out 2 local Trattoria’s and the one we were heading for had a chef that played “historical football”. This she told us was a cross between rugby and soccor and handball played only in July and between the four districts of Florence. It has been an age old tradition apparently and is only a “Man’s man” sport as it’s very tough and played with many balls on the field at the same time, she told us. We found the Trattoria and had “house cooking” as the waiter explained. We discussed our day at length over dinner and especially meeting Benito and the string of coincidences (if you believe in them that is, as I don’t) that took place in the past 24 hrs and we decided that if “coincidences” happened again on the trip (which we were certain they would) then we would call them a “Benny moment” Anyway back to the dinner…Another great meal that rivalled the night previously this time ravioli and instead of the little pillows we are used to seeing smothered in a tomato sauce it looked like a cannelloni tube. The pasta was stuffed with a veal filling and a tomato meat sauce spooned over the top, fantastico! We were then guided by the waiter and had an assortment of grilled meats with a fresh salad with half a litre of the house white all were delicious! We had some of their home made gelato and then headed for home, however we didn’t quite reach there.


As we were walking up to pass another restaurant the manager (we later found out) started talking to us and the banter began. Raoul asked us to a music festival and said that no tourists would be there and the music, food, wine, etc was from all over the world. We were in hysterics saying sure, sure, and how many other women have you asked etc. I said that I thought at 10.30 a stream of women would appear, all that he’d invited and he’d be the Pied Piper! So we sat down in the restaurant cause we had discussed “Why not?” and drank another ½ litre of house white and ate some foccacia.
The music festival was fun, we mainly stayed at the Arabic place as there were Shi-sha’s there. Very soon Raoul’s friends started appearing and then Mohammed Ali graced us with his presence. This was his real name as he was (apparently) the African boxing champion 2 years previously. Seemed to be somewhat of a hero as lots of guys were stopping speaking to him and then later on when walking along stopping him in the street. Or he could have been something entirely different…who knows! Yes I said later on in the street as he had made a bee line for R and certainly wanted to hook up with her, so the 4 of us were walking back towards the market area. We said our goodbyes and headed back to our apartment all safe and sound…
Well that’s our version for now…more information revealed upon request…

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Photos

Benito
Benito

Benito
Benito

Benito
Benito

Benito
Benito

Music Festival
Music Festival

Music Festival
Music Festival

Music Festival
Music Festival

Music Festival
Music Festival