It's Saturday morning, and I am hesitant to leave my small hotel dining room, with a steaming caffe latte, a cellophane-wrapped croissant (ah, well, can't have everything!) and my computer in the only spot in the hotel where the wi-fi works. It is freezing out--I opened my room window briefly to confirm. Yesterday when I arrived it was cold and got colder, with a nasty wind ripping through the piazzi--it was not so bad walking in the narrow streets but cold enough that I was wearing all my cold weather stuff except silk long johns--I may have to break those out today.
So far I have worn just about everything that I packed, except for my one short sleeved t shirt, and my collared sleeveless shirt, so I declare my pack job a success. I am carrying everything in a Victronox backpack, that has a small day pack that can be attached--but when it is attached the whole rig protrudes back behind me a couple of feet! I have used it that way a couple of times when walking to or from a train station, but mostly just carry the small pack like a purse. I have a small purse as well, a small baggallini bag, for tickets, lipstick, cell phone, etc. BTW, my cell phone number here is: 39 (country code) 3349604571 should anyone want to send me a text or call.
Back to clothes--yesterday I was so glad that I had what I had... a tank top, a thin, long sleeved t-shirt, my smartwool turtle neck with a zipper at the neck (love it!!!), my warm patagonia fleece jacket, and my over-the-hip length REI windbreaker/raincoat with hood in large--it may be big, but it fits over everything with no problem and is big enough to really protect from the wind. Enough about clothes--I have been planning what to bring for months since I am here so long and using public transportation.
Back to Florence... when I left Rapallo yesterday I'd planned my trains on line, so purchased tickets for the speediest combo of trains, leaving Rapallo at 10:30. I was supposed to arrive in Florence at 13:30, but at Empoli, about 20 minutes from Florence, the train was delayed, and then everyone was asked to move to another train--something with the engine, I think. I was very comfy in a car with--i swear--one big family that boarded in Rapallo--it was hilarous as they were all settling in--it took about 10 minutes after the train started moving for everyone to get their luggage settled and find seats. The kids were going from zia to zio, and it was pretty cute. That's one of the things that has been really neat--people traveling to see family for Christmas, carrying presents and cakes, and sharing cookies and treats. The trains are such an integral part of the transportation system here--busses, too.
In Florence I did my usual--I'd looked at the map earlier, so I took off in the general direction of the hotel, walking in a wide arc instead of the most direct route, walked past it, then walked back again to find it. It is directly across the street from the Duomo--actually across from the Baptistry. I have learned that when looking for a hotel or other business, to look carefully--often there is just a little sign, and often businesses and hotels are not on the ground floor--this one is on the second floor (the third floor in the US). There is a lift, but with my backpack I don't usually need a lift. My first room was really small, and there was a very musty smell... I started to unpack, but went to the desk and asked to be moved. The proprietor looked through the keys, and gave me a room right across--much better room--bigger, and with no musty smell.
I left the hotel about 15:00 and waked toward the Ponte Vecchio--then to the Pitti Palace... more later--it's almost 9:00 and I want to get to the Uffizi before the line gets too long... oh, yeah--this place is busy, even in freezing winter! Mostly just in the corridor from P. Vecchio to Ufizzi, to Duomo, it seems, so it's easy to go one or two blocks away from that corridor and then it's not so busy.
Ciao tutti!
So far I have worn just about everything that I packed, except for my one short sleeved t shirt, and my collared sleeveless shirt, so I declare my pack job a success. I am carrying everything in a Victronox backpack, that has a small day pack that can be attached--but when it is attached the whole rig protrudes back behind me a couple of feet! I have used it that way a couple of times when walking to or from a train station, but mostly just carry the small pack like a purse. I have a small purse as well, a small baggallini bag, for tickets, lipstick, cell phone, etc. BTW, my cell phone number here is: 39 (country code) 3349604571 should anyone want to send me a text or call.
Back to clothes--yesterday I was so glad that I had what I had... a tank top, a thin, long sleeved t-shirt, my smartwool turtle neck with a zipper at the neck (love it!!!), my warm patagonia fleece jacket, and my over-the-hip length REI windbreaker/raincoat with hood in large--it may be big, but it fits over everything with no problem and is big enough to really protect from the wind. Enough about clothes--I have been planning what to bring for months since I am here so long and using public transportation.
Back to Florence... when I left Rapallo yesterday I'd planned my trains on line, so purchased tickets for the speediest combo of trains, leaving Rapallo at 10:30. I was supposed to arrive in Florence at 13:30, but at Empoli, about 20 minutes from Florence, the train was delayed, and then everyone was asked to move to another train--something with the engine, I think. I was very comfy in a car with--i swear--one big family that boarded in Rapallo--it was hilarous as they were all settling in--it took about 10 minutes after the train started moving for everyone to get their luggage settled and find seats. The kids were going from zia to zio, and it was pretty cute. That's one of the things that has been really neat--people traveling to see family for Christmas, carrying presents and cakes, and sharing cookies and treats. The trains are such an integral part of the transportation system here--busses, too.
In Florence I did my usual--I'd looked at the map earlier, so I took off in the general direction of the hotel, walking in a wide arc instead of the most direct route, walked past it, then walked back again to find it. It is directly across the street from the Duomo--actually across from the Baptistry. I have learned that when looking for a hotel or other business, to look carefully--often there is just a little sign, and often businesses and hotels are not on the ground floor--this one is on the second floor (the third floor in the US). There is a lift, but with my backpack I don't usually need a lift. My first room was really small, and there was a very musty smell... I started to unpack, but went to the desk and asked to be moved. The proprietor looked through the keys, and gave me a room right across--much better room--bigger, and with no musty smell.
I left the hotel about 15:00 and waked toward the Ponte Vecchio--then to the Pitti Palace... more later--it's almost 9:00 and I want to get to the Uffizi before the line gets too long... oh, yeah--this place is busy, even in freezing winter! Mostly just in the corridor from P. Vecchio to Ufizzi, to Duomo, it seems, so it's easy to go one or two blocks away from that corridor and then it's not so busy.
Ciao tutti!
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