Day 18 of our trip - Florence

Ah it is so nice to be here. Florence is much quieter than Rome and today is the first day I don't feel hot. Our hotel is just by the railway station and pleasant enough. Patricia the hotel owner came to Rome from Texas to do her Masters in Art some 40 plus years ago but ended up getting her Mrs qualifications instead she says with a big hearty laugh. Hubby obviously not alive any more. Rosie, her offsider, makes a mean cappuccino for Alan.



We wander down the cobbled pedestrian streets remarking at how different the architecture is here – not all ruins like Rome but very distinctive buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. It is easy to see why Florence is known as the 'Jewel of the Renaissance'.


Architecture aside there is shopping! Leather bags, beautiful paper products, scarves, art works....


We spend a great day exploring, shopping a little, nice meal, gelati – what more could one want.