Florence, Pisa and Tuscany

We left Venice early and headed to Florence. Glad to see the bus as it's air conditioned. Johnny the bus driver is always pleased to see us.

We drove through the Italian countryside to Florence. Most of us asleep again as it was an early start. We finally arrive in Florence which was hotter than Venice. We meet a tour guide who raced around the city. It was too hot to go at her speed and most people got frustrated and tired. We went passed (at lightening pace) the Della Robia Statutes and into another church. We ended up at the Statue of David by Michelangello. It was very moving to be there. The guide finally slowed down and took us up close to David. She explained everything about him as we walked around the statue. While racing around Florence we spotted this strange smart car.

We then drove to Montacatini to our hotel. Montacatini is a holiday town so the atmosphere is relaxed and there is not so many people.


The next day we travelled to Pisa to see the leaning tower. One of the 7 wonders of the world. Mum was so amazed at the tower that she wasn't paying attention to the cobblestone curb and fell down. She got Pisad! Blood knee and sore ankle. Lucky we had hunky Romanian Roberto as our tour guide who kissed it better and wisked mum up. Who needs a nurse when you have Roberto.

Unfotunately we didn't have time to go up the tower but we did go inside the church which was absolutely amazing. I thought I was all churched-out but this church and its 24 carat gold roof was incredible.

We had dinner in a beautiful countryside vineyard in Lucca where we had lovely wine (not as good as NZ though) and yummy food. They also served Grappa which is 40% proof. It was horrible but a couple of the young boys took to it. They needed a big walk before going to bed.

We then headed to Rome via San Gimignano. San Gimignano is a city of towers with a big town wall around it which is up high in a hill top. We had lunch there and shopped (again) a little.

Our toilet stops are always interesting. You have to pay to use them, which is mainly a donation of euro .50. The toilets in San Gimignano were squat toilets with no paper unless you paid the man at the door. They know how to rip a stupid tourist off - just take the toilet paper away. Some toilets are free but you have to climb over the rubbish to get there.









Off to Rome.