Day one (arrival): Arrived Pisa international airport by lunch time which is in the heart of Pisa. A short bus ride from the airport and we found ourselves wondering through area of the Duomo and the leaning tower of Pisa only to stop for a gelato. It was then another leisurely stroll through the city of Pisa - which I now understand is one big university town. Bumped into some celebrating groups - most cheering the one with laurels in his/her hair. My speculations were - someone was getting married. But discovered upon asking that it was a 'ridiculous' (quoting an italian) italian graduation tradition.
Honestly, thought it all looked rather quaint ...!
More window shopping and a coffee break, we found ourselves on the coach journeying down to Florence. The trip west took us 75 mins right into the heart of Florence - the Santa Maria Novello station. Discovered that BFL had booked us at the hotel right by the Ponte Vecchio!
(Isn't he simply wonderful?)
Ponte Vecchio's yet another dream of a place that I've seen in movies but don't really know where in the world it is. It was like dejavu - to discover that that image of a bridge seared into my mind is the very place we would be living next to for the next five days! Yet another discovery is what's on the bridge...
It was almost too good to be true when I discovered all the shops on the bridge were jewellery shops. Talk about major bling! Told BFL there MUST be a reason why we're living by Ponte Vecchio ... what's my budget? (hehe)
Day 2: The day began with waking up to the many morning bells of Florence. Breakfast came with the view of the picturesque city.
We then spent the morning roaming around Pitti Palace museum(s). We bought one of those museum tickets that allowed us only restricted access to certain exhibits. Since BFL wanted to see the Royal Apartments (it was once the home of the Duke of Florence/Medici family), we got the tickets that gave us access to that and the 'Modern art museum' - which admittedly the both of us weren't so keen on (Thinking along the lines of Tate Modern, we both agreed that modern art is lost on us ...). However, we were pleasantly surprise. Modern art in Italy is vastly differently from British modern art. This was styled along the lines of Musee D'orsay. It was thus rooms and rooms of amazing works that were easy on the eye.
Lunch stop (and more pasta later) and the next session of window shopping began. We ended strolling north to St Lorenzo markets where I read (in guide books) that you could find yourself leather goods bargains which Florence is known for.
While I didn't get anything from the markets itself, BFL came way with 4 new silk ties. Thing was by the time we reached the markets, BFL had bought me a nice scarf and leather belt along the way (such a sweetie).
After dinner (yet more pasta), we caught an operetta Madam Butterfly. It was organized at St Mark's church on Via Maggio. My first italian opera in all but name!
An hour and a half later we found ourselves strolling through the
medieval streets of the fortified town. It was flea market day and
there was much to see!
It was also the day it turned cold and wet. Having said that we have been lucky to have had good weather since we arrived. Pleasant enough to be wandering out without thick coats.
Day 4: Our last day in Florence was spent trying to see the places we latterly discovered we wanted to see. I read about the Vasari corridor on the train and made up my mind that that was a place worth visiting. BFL on the other hand decided he wanted to do the Uffizi gallery. Even if these were two different exhibits they were connected to each other. Either way you could start with and end at another. However, it being Monday Uffizi was closed and the Vasari corridor's refurbishment project would only be completed in the summer! :(
Day 5: Our final morning in Florence. Not wanting to miss our flight at 1 pm from Pisa (which is a distance away) we left Florence by 9.15 and had fairly stress free journey and ample time to browse the airport's duty free shops. I reckon BFL has never done this much window shopping in one long weekend away ... he's been such a wonderful sport!
Everything ran bang on schedule and we landed into Gatwick by 3 pm. Weather in the UK was brilliant for a change. What luck! Also, I had my first taste of lining up in the EU passport lane. It was all some what novel and admittedly less nerve wrecking (UK immigration officers are dead scary if they wanted to be).
But what a wonderful trip we've had!
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