And so to Florence….

 After a week in the Tuscan countryside where we alternated lazy days playing cards and sitting by the pool with trips to Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa, we plunged back into the mayhem that seems to be the hallmark of Italian cities. In Rome we did not have a car, but we drove into Florence. Things went well to start with. We quickly (or as quick as you can, given the hairpin bends and narrowness of the country roads in Tuscany) found our way into south Florence but the fun and games started as we got into the old part of the city. The streets rapidly narrowed and out sat-nav system seemed to get itself into knots, sending us this way and that, often down streets that are so narrow that you wonder how you are ever going to get down them. Down one of the streets two ladies were helping an elderly women walk down the road. As we approached they all shuffled over to one side but I don’t think the old woman was physically able to step up off the road onto the sidewalk. I held my breath as we crawled past, missing them by a matter of inches. Somehow we found our hotel, more by luck than anything else.

Our hotel is great. It right in the center of Florence, about five minutes walk from the Cathedral. We have a suite, which consists of two big rooms. It feels a little like being in our own personal art gallery as the ceilings are painted with beautiful frescoes. The weather has cooled down a bit, so although the sun is strong, it is not as hot as it was in Rome, thank goodness. After a walk to the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio we found a lovely restaurant near the hotel where we had a leisurely dinner complete with complimentary sparkling wine.