Travel to Italy, Tuscany, Florence.

We had a leisurely start to the day with breakfast in the shady courtyard. Temperature rose throughout the day to 26 so water and rests were required.

We headed off with our trusty guide books and maps and the Firenze cards Jim had bought online. It was a very popular venue today with loads of groups of young teenagers here and there! Quite a few Americans around as well but we coped.

So we came to Sante Croce piazza and it was brimming with street sellers and guess who fell for the gift of an elephant ornament and then another and 5 Euros later the street seller finally moved on. I got stronger through the day with the shaking of my head and definite No! Jim got it in one but then he had years of training in Abudhabi. We had a browse around the market always so colourful with fresh veg and fruit salami and ham.

So Jim headed off to get the tickets sorted and I sat in the sun having forgotten the sun cream as you do! Yes we have returned this evening with red faces and arms but not too bad thank goodness.

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Travel to Florence, Italy.

Country/Town visited: Florence, Italy
Date of stay: Lived between Sep06-Feb07. Numerous visits since.

I believe Florence really doesn’t need an introduction, or even a review for that matter. Simply put, the word ‘captivating’ comes to mind when the name is mentioned.

The most stunning city in Tuscany, if not all of Italy, Florence has been ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And all the praise is thoroughly deserved.

This is where the Renaissance all started, and evidence of this is everywhere you look. Simply walking through the city streets is like being in one giant open air museum, with stunning architecture, beautifully carved statues and grand churches on display to all.

If you prefer to be indoors, museums like the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’ Accademia will satisfy your inner artistic side with hundreds of masterpieces painted by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and countless other masters of the brush. Not to mention the world famous statue of the David.

But you don’t have to be an art aficionado to appreciate what this city has to offer. Florence has a unique feel to it that anyone who visits immediately senses. It is less frantic than many other tourist hotspots in the world, but does have its fair share of tourists in numbers during the peak season. I recommend you go in May or September, when the weather is still hot (and a little more bearable) and the crowds have thinned a little.
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