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Published: July 19th 2015
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Hi, It has been a number of days and more travels and experiences.
We finished our La Spezia experience with a bus trip to a local beach which on a week day was very crowded with all going to the beach often by bus. It was 30 mins by bus, not much of a beach by our standards and for much of the beach you need to pay and for that you get a umbrella, two deck chairs and the opportunity to use the change rooms. And there are a range of beach 'owners'. Walked to the rail station at La Spezia after being (for me) there four times. It was only a ten minute walk. Then on the train to Pisa and then a connection to Florence, one was first class. No problems with the connection or the luggage, Mary's primary concern whilst travelling. Arrived in Florence to 40c and has remained at that temperature in Rome as well. It has taken some thing of the edge off the stays. One guide told us that it gets hotter or more uncomfortable in August. Would not advise travels here in July or August.
Back to Florence, we were only
3 mins from the train station, however it took about 20 mins to find. One first was the building contained five hotels with the name plates on the front of the 8 story building. The street was short but full of hotels. We were about five minutes from the shopping and the big leather markets. About three blocks of them both on the street and and in shops. We got a lovely hand bag After seeing many and discussing the half price and further discounts. There was also a large to story food market which had restaurants above of every type. Mary enjoyed a pastry and I a wine.
We did the tour bus again and saw the sights and church's. Both nights after dinner there were some nice music in the streets. We ate in street restaurants both nights and then walked including to a custom made Magum ice cream shop. They start with plain ice cream then dip in chocolate and cover in what ever you select.
We did the local hop on hop off bus again and saw the usual old buildings and church's. I think I have had enough of them.
I did
an afternoon wine tour did left at 2.30 and returned at 7.30. Went an hour into the hills which was good and had about 40 people on a large bus. We tasted about 7 wines at two places and tried cheese, salami including wild boer salami, balsamic vinegar up to 20 yrs old ( it was great) and olive oil, most of the oil and vinegar was on bread which precluded my tasting.
The hotel whilst old was good and provided breakfast which was a good start to the day. The desk staff were very helpful. It was great to walk just five minutes to the station, we were on first class to Rome which took 90mins and was comfortable.
Hi Mary here! Yes well before we left Florence station we were next to an elderly man who was not all well. Had to help him lie down, no speakadaenglish! Tried to fan him on the floor and the wife took off somewhere??? For ages, I wanted to alert a staff member or police passing by but wasn't allowed to. He closed his eyes for a while and I was very relieved when wife came back with tickets, he opened his eyes, smiled and she thanked us!! We read the directions properly at Rome station and didn't take long to get to our hotel this time! then it was time to go Out to explore. I had forgotten there were so many ruins in this place, just everywhere! We walked for several hours in the heat, did I mention, the heat!!! I tried to show Peter the Trevi Fountain, he wasn't interested but I wanted to see it again, well, no water, all barricaded off and under repair or reconstruction! Of course he had told me it wasn't worth looking at! Yesterday morning we enjoyed our tour of the Vatican with the other million tourists. They confiscated Peters big backpack inside the Sistine chapel precinct and because everyone just has to keep moving he didn't have time to get our water or his hat out. They just gave him a ticket number and told him to come back and pick it up later! our guide told him not to worry, just don't lose the ticket! Anyway it was amazing, just as I had remembered as was St Peters Basilica. So after 4 hours, and having to buy more water, we then had to find our way back to the starting point and thankfully it wasn't too much trouble reclaiming the backpack! Hopefully lesson learnt! We caught the hop on off bus back to near our hotel, luckily had a map of where we were staying. Today again we used the bus to go see the Colosseum, didn't join the que to go in, just walked around it and then continued on back to the Vatican to see and hear Pope Francis give his Sunday midday appearance at a window. He spoke in Italian for about 10 minutes and then gave a blessing. We stayed back in the shade on some steps ready to make a quick exit on the bus before our ticket expired. We have been to Mass here where we are staying, Domus Australia, in the chapel each day which has been handy. Once in English by 2 Sydney priests and once in Italian. We have dined in here 2 nights and the food has been good. Tomorrow we fly to Dublin so have just tried to pack. Main bag limit is 20 kg but we can carry on 2 bags. Thats going to be a bit hard for my porter!
Anyway hope all is well back home and heard the Broncos had another win so that's good. Spotted a guy out today in a Broncos shirt and asked who won. He was a Pom and had no idea!!
Peter and Mary
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