Takes my breath away....

Friday 11th December.
We just sat to have coffee while we wait for our hop on hop off bus to arrive and had the strongest coffee we’ve had so far in Italy. Russell has left fingernail scratches on the table.
We’re in Florence (or Firenze as they say in Italy) and I love it! Still the hustle and bustle of Rome but none of the Garbage and scary characters of Naples. But oh my goodness the shopping! I’m so glad I held back on my handbag purchases. We’ve decided now we’ll have to do a box to mail back home, there are things too good to pass up.
Yesterday was a fun day traveling here from Introdaqcua . On the first little bus was a girl who was a bit of a character. One of theose special individuals that every village has, even in Nambour. She spoke to us in machine gun Italian despite our protest that we had no clue what she was saying, the the absolute amusement of everyone else on the bus! She looks like she’s about to go rabbit trapping said Russell, and its true she did! Complete with a shabby shopping trolley that she’d stitched together with bits of string and wire! When she left we got a farewell to rival “arriva derci Roma” complete with a kiss on each cheek for both of us. The whole bus waved goodbye and when we drove off the entire bus including the bus driver and us; laughed for the next kilometer. It was a lovely good natured laughing too, I think they were delighted with how we handled it. When the other passengers left the buss we were included in the waves and ciao’s (Ciao is usually reserved for friends, buon giorno for strangers). Gee it feels so comfortable here.
We caught the Roma Bus in Sulmona and arrived in Rome mid morning and after a tad small amount of confusion as to which platform for which train we figured out what to do. We had the delight of paying 50 cents to use an automated toilet, it looked scary so I took Russell in with me, while trying to tinkle I had a very growly Italian voice explaining how to use the machine. I was waiting for a mechanized hand to come out and powder my tush for me, talk about a nervous wee. Russell decided to take advantage of the loo as well and for a little moment I worried that it woiuld somehow know we’d only paid once, and the troopers would be waiting outside the door as we both emerged, red faced with bags and gjhnd luggage in tow.
At Roma Termini station Russ, clever sausage, bought tickets on the bullet train, up to 300km an hour ……woooooooohooooooooo so we celebrated with a fabulous feast at a sizzlers type Italian ristorante, no self service but heaps of beautiful food. We sat in our comfy bullet train seats waiting for them to light the dynamite although Russ reckons it’s more likely a plunger system like on road runner than a lit fuse. Whatever we flew to Firenze in an hour and a bit . I’ll let Russ tell you about his Hotel selection skills.
Ciao for now.
Linda X

Never let Linda go first, she used up all the good material. Not really, there is so much to say but hard to put it into words.
We got to Florenze and were immediately accosted by a man wanting us to stay at his B&B , had a nice little brochure and everything, but we got this felling he was the type to come and tuck you in at night, or at least want to watch!!!
Found a good place to stay after several tries, I have worked out that if the foyer smells, looks dirty or the person on the desk has no teeth its best to go somewhere else. I do go and check out the rooms first though as some of the places in Italy have bathrooms so small the toilet paper is kept on the bedside table.
Got a nice place though and went for a walk, and to Linda’s delight and my dismay there are streets and streets and streets of markets and shops all around us. That’s not the worst of it Trish has told Linda of this wonderful little town near Sulmona which is famous for its fine gold jewelry, oh well, happy wife happy life.

Must say that Florence is a beautiful city, did the city recon on the “hop on hop off bus” this way we can see most of the sights and decide what to go and see with the time we had. The place is a photographer’s paradise but don’t worry, I wont bore you with hundreds of blog pictures.
Sat up on the open top deck to get best view and nearly froze to death. But you can’t see much from down stairs.
Got off eventually and took in some sights and did some shopping and have also decided we will have to stay an extra day to see even the basics, not a bad problem to have really.
Have great news, I found a shop that has alcohol, pizza and a great gelati all in the same place, Fantastic!

Russell

Linda Boombah again….
I’ve found my city. I’m madly in love with Florence and not just the fabulous food…there’s a golden glow to the light here that takes my breath away. Every direction you look in, is a picture. There are artists on street corners and everywhere there is art, as well as all the creative geniuses of the world, in fact that’s what they call Florence, the Creative Capital of the world. So if I have to run away to a foreign city…this is it! I am gob smacked.
Will add some pics, although we took hundreds…I kept getting Russell to snap left right and centre so I wouldn’t miss a colour, or texture or light or shade…I can’t wait to get home and crack out the water colours. Wow!
A few odd shots for photos today.
Some scenes from Florence
A wheelbarrow full of cement being hoisted atop a building.
Russell finds more gelati
and german sausage
The police have nice handbags too
an old music sheet, i think its "don't worry, be happy..."
a wishing pig
and the boombahs having fun....
Ciao. x