Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Got into Florence yesterday after a lovely, lovely ride on the Eurostar train. 2nd class at 37 EU, but felt like first, and a darn sight better than my Amtrak experiences. Was not a bad walk from the train station to the hostel, which happens to be on the street right next to La Duomo Basilica. Boy is that building huge!!

Anyway the Academy Hostel is real nice, very clean and newish facilities. For the first night I was in a room with two twin beds, tonite I am in a room with three twin beds (no bunkbed yeah!). There was a meet and greet at 6 p.m. with Sangria and snacks. Met folks from L.A., Montana, NYC, B.C., D.C and Ireland Australia and Mexico. The receptionist, who is from the Philipines recommended a good restaurant, so we all trooped over there together and had a feast! I had a pasta with black truffles and butter sauce, we split two bottles of wine and tirimisu all round. When I get this blinking website to take up the photos quicker than a snail's pace (seriously, you may not see a photo till I get home)you can see the group photo and some more pics.

Later Rimina(the receptionist) was going to be singing at a Jazz Club, so we all trouped over there. Due to residency liquor laws we all had to become members for a fee of 5 EU, plus buy a drink. Well worth it though - there were several acts with some awesome blues guitarists and Rimina was phenominal. She was telling me later she is friends with Lea Salonga ( you may know her from Miss Saigon?) So, after Sangria and wine and beer we ended up back at the hostel around 1:30 a.m.

I slept soundly and woke with plans to buy a coat as the weather had cooled a lot - the temp was 41F and wasn't to get warmer than 61F. Rimina told me to check out the market stalls near the square, so I wandered up and down looking at purses (for my daughter) and jackets of all kinds cloth leather, knit. Finally, I settled on a black lambskin jacket that cost 165 EU. I don't know leather from ultrasuede so I hope no. 1 it's real lambskin, and no.2 it is worth close to what I paid. If it isn't don't tell me!

Then I used my Rick Steves podcasts and walked around Florence, not going in anywhere, just scoping out where things are. I walked around the Duomo and the Baptistry, taking lots of photos, walked to the Uffizzi Gallery but again didn't go in. I also walked across the Ponte Vecchio, full of very expensive jewelry and clothing shops. On the other side of the river, I found a nice little wine shop and had a panini and a glass of wine for 6.5EU. I may return tomorrow they were so nice! After another gelato - this one tasted like a creamsicle, I cruised down some different streets and into a bookstore, where I picked a up a few calendars with Tuscany scenes. Then it was back to the hostel, where I checked into my new triple room. I've spent the last several hours working on the computer (FREE at this hostel!) trying to rotate and label photos and finally to upload them. Didn't happen but I was able to email to myself. So I've decided to email them as a bunch to everyone on my list. Delete them if you want, but it might be the only chance to look at them for some time.

Tomorrow, Thursday, there is supposed to be a Creativity Festival starting in the city. No idea what that entails, but Rimina will know - she knows everything! Therre are supposed to be some quite good day trips to Sienna and Pisa, so I'll check that out as well. Heard from one person that the Uffizzi wasn' worth the price but that the Academia (where David is) is. They have a dual exhibition of Robert Maplethorpe nudes juxtaposed with the marble nudes. Should be memorable at any rate!

Well should be warm now at any rate although poorer by far. having a good time and so glad I'm at this hostel . good value, good location, good people!