Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Went for a quick walk around the narrow streets early - no tourists, just students moving around, deliveries to shops, and the like. Great breakfast in the hotel overlooking the garden. The orange juice is red - tastes wonderful. As is usual in Europe, the main breakfast fare is bread, cheese and ham - the cheese here was fresh sheep milk cheese called Cashotta (not sure about that spelling). The longer we are here the more we realize how lucky we were to stumble across this hotel. It is 4 star at a very reasonable price. It is a palace or stately home, in the same family for more than 200 years and converted to a hotel in 1929. Cloudy day but fine and mild. Walked around the streets and to the Il Campo, Italy's "most beautiful piazza". Coffee at Bar Il Palio, the same name as the famous horse race that takes place annually around the piazza. Up to the Duomo (lined up with the other tourists for tickets) - stunningly beautiful both inside and out. Simple lunch of panini at a little bar across from our hotel then drove out about 2.30pm - only about an hour to Florence but trying to avoid the peak hour. Sorry to leave Siena - beautiful old city. We had internet access in the room so we decided to book a hotel ahead. Arrived in Florence in good time, then the fun started. It was raining heavily and the Garmin GPS (do not buy one!) once again just kept switching off. We knew we were close to the hotel but just kept driving around and around in rain and crazy traffic, the wrong way up a bus lane at one stage. Eventually parked and found the hotel on foot to be told we had parked outside police headquarters in a zone reserved for police cars. Raced back to the car which had not been towed then, when parking near the hotel, hit the kerb and flattened the tire. Had a bit of a rest to settle the nerves then walked towards the Duomo (about 1 K from our hotel). Walked around the San Lorenzo market - stalls selling all types of leather goods (some maybe not actually leather), scarves and plenty else including fakes. Had a drink on the street. Up until now we have been struck by how reasonable the prices in Europe have been, but we are obviously now in tourist price country. Found a tiny wine and food shop that had a few dining tables, i'Mangiarino, and had great pasta meal and red wine at a good price, then later paid 7 Euro each for gelati near the Duomo. Our hotel is 3 star and, while not to be compared with last night is still very good - a view of the Medici Chapel from our window if we crane our necks.