Took advantage of hotels proximity to run back to St. Peters early before the lines to take some pictures with my Nikon Coolpix. The largest church in the world, amazing.
Leisurely packing, checking email, waiting for laundry to dry. With the efficient Italian train system, you just show up and buy a ticket in a self service machine. No reservations required.
Took bus to the Termini train station. Involved changing busses but my bag is easy to handle and I knew from guide book that I could get to train station from Piazza Argentina.
Held on to my bags tight in the train station but I havetn seen any pick pockets though I guess they dont wear signs.
Getting ticket was easy, finding the platform for my train was a little confusing. Electronic sign board didnàt list the platfom but I figured out it was 10, but then they moved to 4. Had to ask somone how to figure out the seat from ticket all in Italian. Carrossa is the coach number and xxxx is the seat number. Nice trains, very comfortable. Quick ride to Florence.
I thought I had figured out how to get to my hotel in Florence using internet back in Rome. But it took me an hour to figure out which bus to get on and in the meantime lost the first ticket I bought for bus adn had to buy another on board.
From bus stop it was about a 10 to 15 minute walk but not obvious which building. Come to find out on each street there are duplicate phone numbers red for commercial and black for residential. That is why 75 Via San Gallo was a closed up warehouse and not by B&B. Then once inside you went up elevator to the 2nd floor which is really labeled floor 1. Then look for a tiny placard saying Residenza Johlea.
Worth the hassle, room is nice and large with two bedrooms, full bath, antique furniture. And wifi, breakfast included. No balcony. In center of town.
First evening in Florence I just wandered, getting lost. When it started raining (and my raincoat was in my luggage) I jumped on bus #13 which guidebook said went to Piazza Michelangelo. A vantage point high on a hill overlooking the entire vista of Florence, Arno river and all its bridges. If it wasnt overcast this would have been a fabulous view and photo. By this time I am starving and “miss always prepared” had no snacks on hand and not much money left until found a place to get cash. (It reminded me of a similar situation 30 years ago in San Francisco one summer…)
Walked down a set of steps, through cities walled gates (Porta San Miniato) into quaint Oltarno neighborhood on San Niccolo. Found a fourno selling baked goods and soup. Bean soup, cold but enough to keep me going till I found the perfect dinner spot.
Kept walking along the embankment of the Arno river with beautiful views of the bridges throughout the city. My goal was the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge where I arrived at sunset (rain had finally stoppped). Got some great shots at the crest of the bridge.
Bridge itself is filled with touristy shops, mostly jewellry stores and tourists.
Wandered through the city, ate a spaghetti with octupus dish at a little Trattaria. The Palatio Venettia (a palace museum) was open till midnight. I contemplated squeezing in another museum but decided to save my energy.
Walking home was quicker and I didn’t get lost….