Day 26 - Florence 3 - Assisi 1

Day 26 - Florence 3 - Assisi 1

Friday 7th October

Started the morning off with  a trip to the Uffizi Gallery - the biggest ... sorry oldest Gallery in the world as it is made up largely of the Medici's own collection that they would show off to other important people who visited them. The filthy rich ... but what a collection. A lot of holy art. Madonnas with child accompanied by random saints either side. By the time I'd finished the first forty rooms or so I was feeling rather holy myself ... Thus this picture -I hope this works. I've lost wifi. Hang on I'll go down the spiral staircase.


I think that did work Yah! It's been a while since I've had photos.

This next photo shows that Medici corridor I was talking about in Florence 1

You might recognise this famous painting of Venus...

But may be puzzled like me what this boy is doing. A pretty good statue but not as good as David. Nothing stands up to David anymore. 😊

I realise now the photos didn't work. So I'll just carry on with my thoughts and hopefully later photos will be inserted. I'm on the train to Roma now. Sunday. My first class ticket did not include power nor internet , as I'd hoped. Never mind.

So after the Uffizi I must admit I was quite exhausted. I took a break at the Krishnans. Lunch
Across the road. Then goodbyes and escorted by Hannah off to the railway station. I pick up a few more biscuits I'd bought yesterday near the market to noble on the train. Said goodbye to Hannah then onto the not-so-very fast train to Assisi I went.

At Assisi bus stop I met an Australian couple, Neale and Shelley who were spending the weekend in Assisi and meeting their son there. I correctly guessed the state they were from merely by inspecting their clothing. Wearing jumpers so ... NSW. What a smartarse/clever cookie I am. I also bumped into Caroleena, the Argentinian girl from the "Palace", she had been at the Uffizi as well in the morning, missing the earlier train because the gallery had taken so long. We had only met and talked for a relatively short time but she have me a present- an Argentinian key tag - which was sweet of her. We parted ways at Assisi proper, ie up the hill.

It was a short walk to the B&B and then back down to the St Francis's Basillica. Impressive church- it has lower and an upper sections different churches covered in paintings telling the story of St Francis, centuries old. I felt I didn't know enough about this fellow so I promised myself I would look into it tomorrow. After visiting St Francis' tomb I was ushered out by the guards.

 I forget to mention I was questioned on the way in by an Italian soldier armed with what could easily be mistaken for a toy machine gun. "Any knife", I was asked. I gave him a moments hesitation as I tried to remember the Italian word for "no". Luckily I didn't say "Cie".

Tea this first night was interesting. I didn't venture too far from the accommodation so after checking out menus I finally settled on a 10€ "tentestra" (tourist?? I may have misspelt it ) meal at a restaurant   that had no one else eating there. I was confused especially when the lady behind the counter took some time to look up at me from what she was doing - it looked like gambling on her iPad. When she finally did I knew by her age I was in trouble. She didn't seem to understand me even though I was pointing to the item on th menu on the wall and tried to pronounce it. She called someone from the kitchen who seemed similarly confused. I was about to leave when the chef, who'd made a phone call, indicated to stay and soon after this a boy with limited English came in and looked after me. The meal was nice and the glass of wine was very generous so I returned to my B&B content for the day.
I turned in early as there was no one else around on my floor - only one other room - and finished reading the book I bought when leaving the UK.