We spent yesterday exploring the area across the river from where we are staying, especially the small streets around the Sante Croce church. We found yet another leather shop, and I bought my second leather handbag. Goodness, the pressure now to put my backpack away :(

Last night we caught up with Therese, who works with me at the ABS, for dinner . She has been travelling for four weeks around multiple countries, including Iceland. She had fabulous photos, (thankfully none of the Iceland volcano going ballistic while she was visiting) but some great ones of hot springs which she swam in when it was only a few degrees during the day in Iceland. Brrr! It was great to see her and catch up on her news. We realised that it was the first time Garth and I had been out for dinner since we have been in Florence (ignoring Garth's many take-away pizzas) which seems hard to believe. Thankfully the restaurant lived up to the hype on tripadviser. We managed to consume three courses plus wine with very little effort.

On the way home from dinner, Garth and I came across an orchestra playing in the Piazza Della Signoria (in front of the Palazzo Vecchio) with a couple of opera singers singing classical and more modern American songs. The crowd was hugely appreciative of the singers, especially the tenor who must have been a local bloke, judging by the applause! It was really lovely to hear good music, on a warm night, in front of a magnificent building with fabulous statues . How lucky can you get?

Today we visited Orsanmichel Church and museum, then took the bus up the windy hills road to Fiesole. This little town is just beautiful, full of very large villas with great big terraces with magnificent views across the hills to Florence. In many of the streets, there are small paintings covering fuse boxes - so cute!! We even stopped for a while in St Francesco's church, listening to two monks start mass with a congregation of one! I wonder if my budget will stretch to a villa in Fiesole rather than Lucca for us to spend our retirement in? Hmm, need to do some sums!! I can just picture us sitting on a terrace, sipping prossecco, contemplating which museum to visit the next day.....

After returning to our apartment, we bought one of the beautiful gelatos from the tiny shop around the corner (the chocolate is to die for!) and then walked up the very big hill that follows the old city wall. I'm not sure whether we got rid of all the calories from the ice cream, but we feel very slightly virtuous having made it to the top in record time. Mind you, I am now drinking prosecco outside on our terrace which is probably not helping offset the gelato, while the mozzies are feasting on any bare skin they can find! The good news is that Garth has more mozzie bites than I do, so at long last he understands what it feels like to be a pin cushion!