Brucatos Italy France Belgium 2015: From Roma to Firenze!

May 11, 2015

Ciao!

As it turns out, when we got home from our lovely and leisurely late lunch yesterday at “Wave” we both ended up taking naps – and as R is still dealing somewhat with a cold, he really did need the rest. So, we slept through the late afternoon, decided we weren’t hungry enough to go out for dinner (unfortunately, but good for the budget!) and spent a nice, peaceful evening reading books and packing up our suitcases. (There is a TV in the apartment, that actually gets a channel or two in English, but we both are enjoying some interesting reading, and it is SO peaceful without the TV!)

Up this morning around 6, and had a leisurely breakfast in the flat finishing up the cheese, prosciutto, salami and orange juice. We wanted to do a bit of cleaning (not required, but I prefer to leave a place clean), so I dusted (which was REALLY needed; rather than dust from having all the windows open, it was like very, very fine grained sand had been blowing around and was everywhere!) and cleaned the bathroom, and R vacuumed. As our train wasn’t leaving until 11:50 a.m. we had lots of time. Finally shut the computer down and made the move to the tiny elevator – taking all the collected garbage of a week with us as well as suitcases and backpack. We walked to Re di Roma Metro station, which was just a couple of blocks – and over very few cobbles, which are difficult with rolling suitcases. The only problem there is that their ascensore (elevator) wasn’t working, so we did have to carry the cases down several flights of stairs. Headed toward Battistini and got into a metro car that wasn’t terribly crowded; so happy we’re doing this now and not at rush hour! Got to Termini in about 20 minutes, and then up the stairs into the train station. It is SOOOOO hot – I know I keep complaining about it, but we were not expecting this – in fact, one of our reasons for traveling in May is to avoid the heat of July or August – just not this year!

As we had about an hour to wait, we found that the McDonald’s had (1) Coke; (2) AIR CONDITIONING, and (3) SEATING – also at a premium at this huge train station. In fact, we could sit in comfort and actually watch the sign board to find out our train platform. Apparently, though, the incoming train was late, as they didn’t post our platform until there was just 10 minutes to get on the train! Talk about a mob scene – especially as the train on the opposite track, sharing the platform, was also leaving about then. We found our car – 5 – and our seats – but talk about a luggage problem! NONE of our cases, including my backpack, would fit into the overhead bin! It was wild, especially as there were some Japanese tourists who were dragging cases that were bigger than they were! As it turned out, we were scheduled to sit facing one another, with another couple next to us. However, R spotted a free row of seats just on the other side of the train, which we moved to – actually gave us some breathing room, but boy, we were all jammed in there like sausages. I’ve never seen a train compartment with so little room for luggage overhead. That is usually where the bulk of the luggage goes! It was also very warm on the train; ugh! But it was an express train, and stopped once in the outskirts of Rome, and then we were on the way to Firenze (which is Florence in Italian).

In a little over an hour and a half we pulled in to Firenze and off the train.

Room 15

Outside of our hotel on a lovely square

As several years ago I had made the schlep with a wheeled suitcase over cobbles to the Loggiata dei Serviti Hotel, I was not about to do it again. Instead, we got a cab very quickly, and fortunately, our cabbie (she!) had air conditioning! Ah…cool at last! She dropped us off at the front of our wonderful hotel, and thankfully, it was blissfully cool when we walked in the door. As it was almost 2 p.m. our room was ready, and we were escorted to Room 15. (I have stayed here at least five times in past years, but this is the first time I can remember having a room with a view out the front windows onto the piazza; it’s quite lovely, even though there is a big construction project going on across the square.) And, there are several spacious public rooms just outside our room, where we can sit and read and enjoy some quiet time. Very fun!

Our room, 15, is nice and spacious, and has a lovely four poster bed and chaise lounge. It also has a large bathroom with a lovely bathtub as well as a shower. As opposed to the last time I visited, when we needed to put the shower cap over the T.P. to protect it – (thanks, Jay!) this is really a step up!

Funny statue next door; I'm on the left

Della Robbia on architecture school

More Della Robbia

Robert got to work setting up the computer, and I got the rest of our things settled, as we’ll be here three nights. Then, it being just a little after 2 p.m. we headed out to find something “light” for lunch, as we have reservations tonight at a local restaurant.

Fabulous pizza!

We found a very nice little pizza shop down the street (and yes, my favorite Florence Laundromat is still there!!) and each had a piece of pizza with cheese and tomato and herbs – just excellent! Then, we walked over to the Accademia (which is closed because it’s Monday) and to the Archeological Museum (which is closed because it was after 2 p.m.) and finally just strolled down the street toward the Ponte Vecchio to check out the view.

Fountain on "our" beautiful square

Baptistry tower and Duomo

To say that it’s crowded in Firenze now is truly an understatement.

Window dressing!

I’m really not sure how many more visitors can be jammed into the local spaces!

LOTS of people at Ponte Vecchio

View of bridge and the Arno

But we made it to the bridge and took some photos of it and the Arno, and then I got some gelato (stracciatella and chocolate fondante) for the stroll back to the hotel. Again, as we have been here several times in the past, we do not need to see the Uffizi again, so we are looking at some smaller museums, especially the Bargello, which is one of our favorites (sculpture rather than flat art). We will hit the Archeological Museum first thing in the morning, and then go from there! Back recuperating in the nice and cool hotel; getting ready for dinner soon!

M meets gelato...

Piazza della Signori

Oh, one more thing! Anyone who has been following us in our travels knows that I LOVE Magnum Classic ice cream bars…they are really wonderful! Well, we rounded a corner here in Florence, and voila! An actual Magnum BOUTIQUE – with instructions on how to make your own Magnum bar!