Day 25 - Florence

Last nights sleep was amazing. The lie in this morning was not so amazing. My body decided that 8.30am was a sufficient lie in. These travels have changed me. We had a slow morning an just stayed around the hostel, sorting stuff out for when we get home and getting annoyed by things that we will be returning home to. Then we set off for the centre.

We decided to split up today; Katie and Sarah went to the Ufizi and Dee and I wanted to just see more of Florence. We explored all the little side streets and the markets and then came upon a winery. It would have been rude of us not to go in. We had a cheeky little glass and some amazing chocolate cake and then set off again. After admiring a wedding dress shop full of Italian lace dresses we then came across a lovely little square with an Irish pub. Naturally, Dee felt drawn into there. It was a good choice because we found tea. Real, proper English Breakfast tea. It was a wonderful moment. We spent some time in there then decided to carry on exploring. Our explorations took us past a lady who had fallen and smashed her head open, the Duomo and back down to the Ufizi where the girls were. We ha a look round Italian H&M and nearly cried because we wanted everything. Why do the Italians get the best clothes?! After sitting on the steps of the Ufizi for a while, Katie and Sarah came out to join us. They'd really enjoyed it and we're made up to have seen the Venus.

Dee and I decided to take them back to the little square we found with the Irish pub and lot of little restaurants. It was a good choice. We went to the loveliest little restaurant and had an amazing last Italian meal. The translations in the menu were a little bit funny, my meal apparently had 'Persil' sprinkled on top, so I was expecting some very soapy tagliatelle (it turned out to be parsley). We had a full three courses, with wine, and still only paid €20 each so we were rather pleased with ourselves. After our meal we went over to the Irish pub again and had Peroni. Whilst we were there a group of Americans came in (who clearly weren't old enough to drink at home) and they were doing Irish accents and acting like they knew all kinds about Irish drinks. Naturally, they all got a Guinness, but two idiots thought that Guinness with a shot of Baileys was a traditional Irish drink. They also thought they were meant to down a pint of it in one go. It took all her strength for Dee not to match over and knock their head together. After they downed their Guinness and Baileys, they turned green. In our opinion, they fully deserved to be running out to be sick. And that is what they did. Silly children. They then decided to get another drink and started talking about pints of Kilkenny. Dee then informed us that no one drinks it in Ireland because it is an awful drink, just as she said this one of the group shouted 'HEY GUYS, EVERYONE IN IRELAND DRINKS THIS!' Oh how we laughed. Such perfect timing. We then looked at the drinks menu to see what else they had and discovered a beer cocktail called a 'Liverpool Kiss', obviously we had to get this. I couldn't understand the barman when he tried to tell me what was in it, but I ordered it anyway. He got a postcard out that was from Liverpool and read the ingredients from the back. Turns out a Liverpool Kiss is Guinness and Blackcurrant! Oh I was made up!

We said goodbye to the Irish pub land headed back to the hostel. Walking past the Duomo in the dark was unbelievable, it was just stunning. We have loved our time in Italy so much. Staying in Florence and travelling out was definitely a good idea, Florence is such a beautiful place and it has been wonderful to just wander round and get used to one place after flitting around from here to there for the last 3 weeks. Florence is my favourite place we have been to. I would lie to go back again... and lagain and again and again and again...

Blog wasn't posted last night because I was so tired. I wasn't dead, don't worry Mum.

Day 26 - Florence to Geneva

Today is a sad day. We are leaving Italy. We had our final breakfast at the hostel and left for the train station. I haven't carried my backpack for a week so it was a bit of a shock to the system. We got the train to Milan and on the train we saw a man who's beard was taking over his whole face. Milan's station is gorgeous. The murals on the walls are fantastic and the whole place looks so chic (yes, I used the word 'chic' but I am allowed to now seeing as I've been to Milan). We got on our connecting train to Geneva and we all agree it was our best journey yet. We went through the Alps and everywhere looked like a postcard. It didn't look real. If someone told me the windows were actually tellys showing fake scenery then I would have believed them. Honestly I have never seen a place more beautiful than the Alps. There's tiny little towns on the mountain sides and I think I want to go and live in one and yodel for the rest of my days.

We arrived in Geneva about 4.30pm and went straight to the tourist info to find where we are staying. After Google telling us we were 90mins from the centre of Geneva, the info lady telling us we were actually a 20min tram ride was a huge relief. We are actually staying in France, we got off the tram and crossed the border control and we were here. Our apartment is fab. We have a view of both the Alps and the border, our own bathroom and our own little kitchenette so we can save a few francs by cooking for ourselves. Katie and Sarah went to the shop on the corner, which is actually in Switzerland, and then came back to our apartment in France with all the food. Dee and I have just cooked sortéd potatoes and onion with fish fingers and it was amazing. We are now watching The Tudors (which is dubbed in French) and we are going to get an early night so we can be up to explore Geneva tomorrow. We couldn't get a tour of CERN and we were gutted but we are going to try and get up there anyway and have a mooch around if we can. We also want to see the 40ft water shooting jet fountain thingy (I think that's it's real name) which is mean to be really good. There's a Red Cross Museum which takes you through the history of atrocities perpetuated by humanity. I would quite like to go to that but I don't think the others want to be depressed.

Ps, mother that Red Cross museum is your kind of thing too, I know if you were here you would come with me.

PPs, I have been informed that lots of people at home (and beyond... Hello Aunty Pam!) are reading my blog and this makes my belly feel all warm and fuzzy. Glad you are all enjoying it, but you still have to sit and listen to my stories when I get back!