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Have you seen 'Under the Tuscan Sun' before? That is one whack movie, but there was something a little bit charming about watching it on the bus ride from Rome to Florence and glancing out the window to see the same beautiful scenery.
We stopped in Orvieto for lunch and browsed the little hilltop town with its 'striped wallpaper' looking church, and arrived in Florence late thanks to our somewhat disorganized guide.
This put the pressure on a little as unfortunately we had only one night in Florence, so had booked an afternoon walking tour to make the most of it. We leapt off the bus and legged it to our accommodation (Ben and Gem were staying in different accommodation but were in the same predicament).
Thankfully Mark and I found ours easily and we were met at the door by a shy 12 year old girl who explained in hesitant English that her mother would be home shortly to check us in. We sat in the foyer dripping in sweat, as the girl's two little dogs bounced around our feet. I played with them and the girl edged a little closer. "They are very cute," I said, "what are their names?" Her face lit up as she introduced them and told us she had more - would we like to see? Sure, I said. She reached the door to her apartment then whirled around with a concerned look on her face. Ummm, are you frightful, of the big dogs? I shook my head and waited for a Rottie. She opened the door and whistled, and out bounded a procession of small white fluff balls, four in total and last of all a big dopey eyed, drooling St Bernard named Millie. So beautiful and a complete wuss. The little girl chattered away then about her dogs, and told us there was also a second St Bernard. How they all fit into that little apartment is beyond me! Her mother arrived and we checked in to a cute little attic apartment, before racing off to join our tour.
The walking tour was fairly short but the guide was local, knowledgeable and quite funny as he led us around town with his monkey on a stick raised high, "follow the chunky monkey!" and constantly asked if we could spot the balls on different statues and monuments - meaning the five spheres on the Medici family crest. We saw the replica David in its original location, and the fourth largest cathedral in the world with over 450 steps to top of the huge dome. Our last stop was at a leather factory where we learnt how to tell real from fake, and then it was on to a 4 course dinner. Italy really knows how to make a girl fat!
That night was our last with Ben and Gem for the next couple of weeks - they were staying on in Florence and then travelling a similar route a couple of days behind us. They missed the walking tour but made the dinner, then we all kicked on with the tour group to a karaoke bar, ordered 3.5L beer towers with a massive sparkler streaming out the top (everyone oooohed and this never got old), and had a great time watching (laughing at) the Beyonce wannabes shaking their booties onstage while the guitarist shredded on a Steve Vai signature model guitar. Clearly that little FYI is compliments of Mark, and not myself.
We said our goodbyes around midnight and Mark and I walked back to our apartment and stumbled across a free music festival in a park on the way home.
I really did like the look of Florence and it is somewhere I'd like to get back to at some point, especially if there is a Tuscan wine tour involved... It has nice open squares and surprisingly, a very youthful and social vibe. I say surprisingly because all I really knew of Florence was its artsy/renaissance roots and that line in My Best Friends Wedding where Cameron Diaz says she LOVES Florence, and Julia Roberts says that whatshisface should take her there. Mmhmm, well informed.
Short but sweet!
- comments
Sheryl One star less because you forgot Dermot Mulroney's name :) Sounds idyllic, love the attic room too. Keep enjoying xox