We left at 10am with the aim to be in the car with the air-con on at the hot time of the day. We had swapped a book at Jane and Ian's and also swapped some wine so we have some in a screw top. Jane had a screw top bottle as the Italians are creatures of habit and still use corks.

The drive went well . We got the Tom-Tom to choose a non-toll route as it was only an extra 20 minutes. This took us close to Sienna. We had a quick stop by a lake that we had found (because there was a cache there of course). However, the area was full of picnicking 'muggles’ so we moved on after a snack lunch in the car. We saw a solar farm on the way and got caught once in a minor traffic jam. These can be a little spooky when you are caught in a tunnel!!

We stopped for a short break at a service station. I had an iceblock but John ordered a latte. He first got an iced crème coffee and when he reordered the second time he got hot milk!! He didn’t realise his Italian was so bad! Actually I should have known about the milk being given for latte but not about the cream coffee but he enjoyed them both so it was fine.


The service station not only had a big wine section, it also sold spirits . This is quite common, but you don’t see people over-imbibing here. The teenagers often seem to prefer the café’s for ice-cream and coffee late at night.


When we reached the BnB in Florence Elena met us, gave us a map and also details for getting into the city, and showed us the breakfast room which we can also use during the day to make drinks. There is a nice outside area but it is too hot to make use of it. In fact, the first thing we did was have a nap in the air-conditioned room. John was also able to watch the 2nd half of the Germany-Argentine World Cup game.

At about 5.30pm we walked into the city following the route she had suggested. It took us past Galileo’s house. We arrived at the old Ponte Vecono and ‘goggled’ at all the gold. In 1593 Grand Duke Ferdinand Kicked out the butchers and rented to the much cleaner and more profitable goldsmiths and jewelers and almost all shops are of these types. We then went to the main gallery area and found the museums are open from 9am to midnight. Elena said they are mainly air-conditioned so popular in the early afternoon. We enjoyed looking at all the ‘free to view’ statues at the Uffizi Gallery and frescos at the Vecchio Palace.

Our only problem came when getting a gelato. I had seen the prices and it looked like it would be 3 euros – more than we have been paying, but this was the city centre . We were not really hot but it made sense to stay cool. However, because we pointed to a cone the gelato was 8 euro – each. It was nice but no nicer than other I have had for 2 euro. After that we were more careful reading prices. (i.e. 2 gelato ice-creams cost over $30NZ!!!!)

We walked to the Plaza Santa Maria Novella and saw the Basilica. 8 centuries ago this was countryside outside the city when the Dominicans moved into a small church. So many people came to hear them preach that the square (later used for carriage races in the 16th century) and then the church (started in 1278) were built. A neighbourhood grew up around the church and the main train station is now also in this area.

At this point we sat and listened to a ‘singing’ busker with a very pleasant voice and repertoire. We were enjoying him so much that we choose a nearby café partly because we could still hear him. The café also had pizza for me (not a surprise) and meatballs and mashed potato for John. We read the small print so no price surprise here. At the end we went back to hear a bit more and ended up buying a CD which will give us something to listen to in the car, as well as being a memory of the area.

Then we found our bus stop, number 37, and made our way back in time to Skype with Irene and send a couple of emails.