Day 4 19th September Leaving Rome today and on our way to Florence but with a stop in Siena.

Weather: 15deg raining most of the day, Rain stopped, 20 minutes after we arrived in Florence

Wake-up call: 6am

Bags out: 6.30

Breakfast 6.30 to 7.15am

Departure 7.30am

We woke up to rain. I prayed that it did not last long. However, God must not have been listening. This was our first day we would be travelling on the coach. Stacey still sick. By the end of the tour, she had given her cold to a couple of people on the coach. Lucky me didn’t get it.

I am actually sad to be leaving Rome as I love this city so much, but its exciting to be seeing more of Italy and I am closer to Venice everyday. Venice was the place I was most excited about while planning this trip.

Tommaso greets us with a happy buon giorno as we board the coach. We are on the road by 7.30. Making ourselves comfortable we sit back and watch the countryside go by. However, Debra had other ideas. While we were on her coach, she was not going to allow anyone to sleep . Most of the time she stood in the aisle and talked and talked. She was watching us – no sleeping while she was talking. So as we turned onto the autostrade and headed towards Siena, First Debra gave us the loo talk – no using the coach loo unless it’s an emergency. Three people did use the loo on board during the trip, but we never smelt anything unpleasant. She then spoke about the difference between Italians and us, about the prices of coke, how to order the correct coffee and why we cannot find cold drinks or ice in Italy and petrol. Very funny

If you want something from an Italian, the simplest thing would be to ask straight away. NO that’s to easy. If you want something just as ice from an Italian, first, you ask how they are, how is their wife and children then you ask for the ice . They will get you that ice no worries but if you ask for the ice first up they say no.

Electricity is very expensive in Italy. They will charge you 3 euro for ice. The Italian Government controls the electricity and will turn the heating off as the weather warms. Doesn’t matter if there are cold days later. The power to the heaters remain off. The same happens with air conditioning. The government controls when you can have it on. The air conditioners shut down end of summer doesn’t matter if autumn is hot. You have to put up with it. This is why so many hotels have keys that remain inside in the door while you are there. They turn on the power but once that key is removed and you leave the room the power is shut off. No leaving your air conditioner on to return to a cool room. But being September, our weather was neither too hot or too cold. The night weather was beautiful.

At 9.30 we stopped at our first stop…the autogrill for something to eat and a toilet break. We were the very first tour bus there. As the day progresses these stops become jam-packed of tourists and the humble Italian. Before we arrived, Debra explained to us for 10 minutes about using the autogrill. You check out the food, look for what you want then go to the register and order and pay for your food, then go back and give your ticket where the food is and pick it up. These places are fantastic. I wish Australia had these instead of Mcdonalds or KFC along the freeway and highways. You can get every sort of food imaginable (even a bautiful three-course meal) along with wine, magazines, toys, groceries, cd’s and dvds. And all the food is delicious. We were given 30 minutes here. WE loved these stops and usually grabbed something to eat on the bus (usually choc or some Italian liquorice that I found yummy and brought each time we stopped). To use the toilets in the autogrills cost 50cents. They are spotless and well stocked.

We arrived in Siena at 11.30 and it was still raining. Insight handed out umbrellas to every one who didn’t have one. They were big and kept the rain off. While we headed up to the main Piazza – Piazza del Campo, Debra informed us that due to a cruise ship just docked in Rome we had to visit Siena now and tour Florence after lunch and then she proceeded to tell us the bad news.



We had only one hour in Siena. What! I felt robbed . I hour was not enough time to explore this beautiful town. Debra spoke for a few minutes on Siena and the Palio horserace (I am actually reading a book about the Palio – very interesting book) and pointed to a fast food pizza bar and then let us go.

Well did Stacey and I bolt. Believe me we did. We headed over to the fast food and grabbed a pizza and coke, which cost us 4 Euros. After quickly wolfing down the pizza and coke we walked around the square admiring its beauty and taking photos. Still raining, we left the square and sprinted up the hill to the stripped black and white Duomo.



There was a massive queue so going inside was out of the question. Just took photos and then dashed back down the hill and glimpsed many charming alleyways. No time to explore today.



And delightful shops - still no time to browse.



And I peeked inside a stunning archway and spotted this charming well. (below)



Then we hurried to our meeting place. (Pheee!) Because our stopover being rushed, I really cannot remember much of the beautiful city of Siena. Thankgoodness I have my photos to remind me of its beauty.

Back on the coach at 12.30 where we watched the stunning Tuscan landscape fly by. Arrived in Florence at 3.30. While travelling to Florence, Debra gave us the optionals today and explained them. During my research, I had already studied what optionals we would do. We handed back our list and Debra informed us that she would collect the payment for the optionals later in the tour.

Florence is charming. I haven’t made up my mind if I have a fondness for the city like I have for Rome. Arrived at Piazza della Signoria and gazed at all the statues, most copies.



Then we looked around Santa Croce and admired the Gothic church of Santa Croce which houses the tomb of Michelangelo and Galileo.



tomb of Michelangelo (below)



Then we arrived at the San Marco area and went inside Galleria dell Accademia and saw Michelangelo’s David - wonderful, sexy, beautiful, gorgeous …. . (get my point). You just walked around him and appreciated all his nakedness. Every muscle revealed.
We then checked out the marbled Duomo and Baptistry and Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous bronze Baptistry doors (the Gate of Paradise) – stunning.

We arrived at Sheraton Firenze Hotel at 6pm Time for a shower and to do the laundry and then met our fellow tourmates for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Dinner was appetizing. First course was anti-pesto - beans, olives and cheese, Then followed salad, pasta, veal, potatoes and dessert - Apricot slice or lemon cake or a chocolate cake. Tea and coffee or water. Stacey is a vegetarian and she let insight know while booking the tour. She was offered a vegetarian choice when we had meat. They really did look after her. Back in room at 9pm Went through photos and transferred them to computer and USB sticks. Bed at 10pm

Lesson Three: you must sweet talk the Italian if you want something.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: maufr,

DAY FIVE TO COME

Am really enjoying this.

is there a day 5 etc?

Hi Badger

Yep there is a day five. Its coming.. Just very busy at work and with family. Hope to put it online within the week.