Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Called the Peugeot help number around 8.00am - they were very helpful. Called back while we were having breakfast and said help was on its way. Went down to the streeet, Via Cavour, and waved down the tow truck. He blocked the whole cross street while he lowered his tray. I had to drive on to the tray, which was not easy with one flat tire. He had no English but signalled me to jump in and we were soon off - amazing what he could do with a big truck in those narrow streets. My German SIM card was out of credits so Louise did not know where I was. Ended up at the Peugeot dealer out near the airport where I was told in broken English that a bracket/strut had also been bent and could not be repaired until Friday afternoon. If this mishap had to happen, guess there are worse places than Florence. Bus to central bus station and it was nearly noon by the time I arrived back at the hotel. Met Louise near the San Lorenzo market. Simple pizza lunch then strolled down towards the river. Coffee and cake at Bar La Borsa - at 5 Euro for a coffee it is something to perhaps just experience but not make a habit of. Window shopping on the Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge across the Arno (I can never think of the Arno with associating Maggie Smith in "A Room with a View" - "I must have a view of the Arno"). Wandered back along the river and checked out the queue at the Uffizi Gallery - early start needed to avoid the hordes. Pasta dinner in a fairly basic little place near our hotel - Italian music playing and house red in tumblers (all we can afford after afternoon tea) - very good though.