Jun 5, 2012 - Florence, Italy

Day 4- Livorno (Florence/Pisa) Bonjourno! Arrived at the port of Livorno early this morning, probably around 6:30am. We didn't get to see the docking ourselves, as both of us FINALLY managed to get a decent night's sleep! HOORAY! Guess that means we're finally acclimated to the new time schedule... which of course means it will be even more fun once we get back home. Oh joy! :-) Anyway, first off, let me start by saying that unlike what we had thought, we did NOT visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or actually visit Pisa itself. Turns out that...

May 29, 2012 - Day 17 - Florence - off to the Market

Day 17 - Florence - off to the market we go!  Had another second B in B&B and started off to peruse what the market had to offer. It turns out lots...but lots of the same or very close to the same stuff. The market we went to was the one at the San Lorenzo Piazza. It is on both sides of the street (or avenue) about 2 km long and with about 4-5 side streets to the left and right as you walk down the main street. Lots and lots of leather (belts, purses, jackets and coa ts), lots of scarfy things, luggage, T-shirts and junk. Karen and I have a...

May 29, 2012 - Day 16 - Florence

Day 16 - Florence Got up, had breakfast (the second B in B&B) and headed off to the first of two reserved, no guide tours. First off we went to the academia museum. This is a world class museum that houses, arguably, the world's most famous statue. It's the statue of David by Michelangelo. Couldn't take any pictures but did get some of a great replica at a different place. The museum was just PACKED with paintings and sculptures by the Masters. The paintings are just breathtaking. Any picture you have seen of them don't do them justice....

May 29, 2012 - Day 15 - continued Manarola/Florence

Day 15 - Manorola/Florence As the previous blog of random thoughts, we were off on the train (with only one transfer) to Florence or as it is indicted on most maps 'Firenze'...why we don't know but will find out. No pick pocket stories this time but we did get in the wrong car which has assigned seating (which we had but didn't realize but for car 5 not car 3. The big plus was I asked a hot Italian babe what was going on and in very good English explained that we were in the wrong car but other than her, here's was empty so we could...

May 27, 2012 - Day 15 - Random thoughts while on the train to Florence

Day 15 - Train trip Manorola to Florence - Random thoughts about Italy - why are there no bugs? Just the time of year? We have seen 2 Mosquitos and 11 flies. - what is with the people in Italy and rudeness? Maybe we are just extra sensitive because we are unsure of what we are doing 1/2 the time but we have never been jostled so much in just ordinary locations. - we have also met some of the nicest, most helpful Italians as well so don't get the idea they are all like that. - why are the best sightseeing roads so winding that you can't...

May 27, 2012 - Day 10 A day out with Federico and Chiara

Day 10 27/5/12 We are both feeling a bit nervous as we are meeting Chiara and Federico and spending the day with them. They are coming to stay with us through Airbnb in August and are hoping to migrate to Australia. We are not even sure whether they speak English as the Airbnb site translates languages. We are not even sure we will know them when we see them. Our arrangements are to meet them downstairs at 10.00am so we headed down about 9.55 and there they were. What a lovely couple. We had coffee and had a bit of a catch up before...

May 25, 2012 - Day 8 Rome to Florence

Up early and we caught the Metro into the city. We didn't manage to get into the city last night...great plans however we finished up having an early night. It was wonderful to be in the city and to see it waking up....very few cars and very few people. We alighted at Barberini and made our way to Trevi Fountain. It was gorgeous being there as the sun was coming up...local traders were setting up their stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables. At the fountain, we did the mandatory 'throw a coin in the fountain' as it means you will return to...

May 14, 2012 - Florence = Museums

The Katti House is old and comfortable, but I do not spend much time there because there is too much to see here. I had supper with an Australian teacher thefirst night here and she made several good suggestions which I am following up on. The Academia Museum / mostly religious art and the Uffizzi Museum / everything the Medici family collected were like an art history book come to life. Michaelangelo's David, so many Pieta and Madonna paintings in the Academia were great, and I need to find another word for that. In the Uffizzi, I liked...

May 13, 2012 - Florence, Italy

May 13 – Florence, Italy We spent most of the day in lovely Firenze [Fir-enz-a]. To get down to the city we walked quite a distance from our campground down to the Arno River. We met our local guide who walked us around the old city to see the outside of the Ufizza Museum, Palazzo (Palace) Veechio, the amazing cathedral and over the “Old Bridge” (Ponte Vecchio). At the Firenze Museum we learned a lot about Michelangelo; saw his original marvelous statue of David. After the tour we separated from the group to wander on our own. Had a small...

May 11, 2012 - Firenze, day 2

Today we toured all the major sites of Florence with our guide Susanna who is a Florentine art historian who is passionate about her city , as were all the various guides we have met. Nearly as impressive as her knowledge of the art and history of Florence, were the trendy rhinestone studded ankled -wrapped sandals she wore for the tour. I know I told you all already how stylish the Italians are, but it is an even more impressive when you see them walking over ancient cobblestones in beautiful shoes. I've seen several Clark's shoe stores...

May 10, 2012 - Firenze

We left Venice by fast train in first class style and arrived in the busy city of Florence. This city looks so different from other places we've been. Red tile roofs and stone buildings are laid out in grid pattern that goes back to Roman times. The look and style of the city has gone through changes from the time of the the Medici's to WWII when many buildings were destroyed. Our hotel is in the center of the city, a short walk to the Duomo which when it was completed in the 15th century was the largest cathedral in Europe and is so...

Apr 30, 2012 - Pisa, The American Cemetary, and Sienna

We made our way back to the train station with all of our luggage, rain coming down the whole time, then took the train to Levanto where we met up once again with the bus. We took the bus to Pisa, where we parked and took a shuttle to the Field of Miracles where the Leaning Tower is located. The place was pretty packed as this was a Monday and the day before the May 1 holiday. We walked around and took pictures of the monuments, including the Duomo, Leaning Tower of Pisa, then walked around the elaborate church that the Leaning Tower was...