Saturday 3rd October

Florence

We requested a change of hotel rooms because what we were in was just too small, the bed jammed up next to a wall and you could almost reach across the room with outstretched arms. We were economising with a shared bathroom, but that was not really working either. We shared a bathroom in Venice, and it was OK, because there were two WC, but here there is just the one, in the bathroom. So the lovely girl on reception organised an upgrade for us with our own en-suite. Very nice and private and with a bidet. Very sophisticated and European.

We wandered off to the Uffizi Gallery and viewed Italian sculpture and painting that the Medicis, and then Florence, had acquired over several centuries. Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio, Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt – you name it, all the biggies – we saw it. We were there for about 4 hours with a twenty minute lunch break on the terrasso that overlooks the Palzzo Vecchio and the Square. From one of the galleries there is the most fabulous view of the Arno River and at least five bridges spanning it.

It’s been a warm, sunny day; this is the best time to be travelling through France and Italy – still lovely and warm, but not too hot, fewer crowds than there would have been a month or more ago, although it must be horrendous in the high season, as there are people everywhere.

On the shopping front – today has been quite successful, as I bought the most gorgeous shoes to wear to The Wedding. So now I am on the lookout for the perfect bag. I did see a lovely little gold mesh purse in an antique store, but at 200€, even I thought it was too much. Very sweet though. Anyway, there is still Siena, Rome and Dubai to go. Also bought a travel bag as the one I brought has not lived up to expectation, or the rigours of travel (it was a gift with purchase, which proves you get what you pay for I suppose).

All in all, we both feel very satisfied with our day – culture, art, accommodation and shopping!