Firenze-Florence

We got up bright and early today in anticipation for our trip to Florence. Actually I think we were anticipating the carrying of the luggage down 120 stairs for the last time.

We got on the public transportation bus (1 Euro each) for Salerno. Just as the sun was peeking over the horizon, we were traveling down the Amalfi Coast for the last time. Some people never get to drive this spectacular coastal highway, and we feel fortunate to have been on it many times. It is absolutely beautiful—even in the early morning hours.

You have to marvel at the drivers. This road was only built for 2 small European cars, one going each way. And yet through the years, they have added tour buses, city buses, motorcycles, construction vehicles, and any other thing that moves and has wheels.

Literally you are hugging the mountain side or the coastal side as your bus winds and winds its way along. Most of the time there is only room for one vehicle but somehow they have worked out the system of stopping and going so that everyone gets where they need to. If you can take your eyes off the road and look out to the scene beneath you, it is truly wonderful.

This morning we could see the lights of the towns in the distance and little fishing boats getting an early start (with lanterns hanging on the boats). Of course this is all with at least a 500 ft drop down to the sea. But overlook that and all the cars just squeaking by and it makes for a delightful experience.

Our train ride was pretty much uneventful. The train stopped in Naples, Rome, and Florence, and then continued on to Bologna, and finally Milan. We are traveling in First Class with our EurRail Pass. For some reason all of the first class cars are at the end of the train. It seems like we walk half a mile just to get to our assigned car. The seats in first class are arranged with two seats on one side, then the aisle and then one seat on the other side. Then the next row is turned around facing your row. So you have fours seats facing each other and then on the other side of the aisle there are two seats facing each other.

There seems to be some debate on the seating arrangement for these seats. When you reserve seats, they place two of you facing each other. You can choose window or aisle. You might be placed on the two window seats of the foursome (and then you will be sitting next to a stranger), or you might be placed on the two seats on the other side of the aisle (which are actually window and aisle seats!) So, I like window and Maridee likes aisle. Our reservation placed us on the window seats of the foursome. Maridee doesn’t like that so she sat next to me on the aisle. There was plenty of room when we left Salerno. In Naples, two men got on who had the two aisle seats, but Maridee suggested they sit across from us, and they agreed. So now we are sitting facing two strangers (and playing footsie with them too!) In addition, when the train pulled into Naples, it went straight into a dead end, so when it left, we were now riding backwards! So much for us juggling for the best seats!

Well, the two guys got off in Rome. So we re-juggled for our position again. “Waitttttt a minute.” I looked out the door and sure enough, we pulled into a dead end again. So we moved back to our original seats again and felt like we had beaten the system this time! That is until a newly boarded group comes up and says they have the two aisle seats and the two single seats on the other side of the aisle. So Maridee suggests, “Wouldn’t you all like to sit together in the foursome of seats?” “Ohhh, thank you” they said, “would you do that for us? Are you sure that’s OK?” Little did they know they had just been sweet-talked by Maridee into just what she wanted! So now we are in the ideal seats—the two single seats facing each other that are both aisle seats and window seats!

We arrived in Florence around 1:30 P.M. Our apartment was a short walk from the train station—maybe a half a mile. We had seen maps before and we knew pretty much where it was. We had some discussions with the property manager when we got to the apartment. (By the way this apartment only has 50 stairs! Piece of Cake, Maridee says!) It did not have the phone or the Internet like we were promised. The issue was quickly resolved when I said that I would not be paying the full rent agreed upon since they did not provide the items that were promised. The apartment is very nice with 2 bedrooms! It also has a living room and bathroom and a FULL SIZE ice cube tray! We are talking big time now!

We did some quick shopping at the market (still can’t figure out the milk here in Italy) and are ready to crash after a long day. We are in the midst of many famous sights and just walking down the street will enable us to visit many of these places. Since were here last year, we spent the rest of the afternoon just getting unpacked. But we did see that we are literally on the back door of “Il Duomo”. See you tomorrow. Print this post