I have been in Tuscany for the past two days. First Stop Pisa, saw the tower, still leaning. Second stop, Florence. Everything is so beautiful. Naples and Sicily had me jaded about Italy, but Tuscany turned it all around.
Things I wasn’t expecting:
1. The bus couldn’t stop in front of our hotel, street to small. We had to haul our luggage 150m down a small laneway, to the lovely 16th century Hotel Paris. The trek was worth it, the hotel is beautiful, but the beds were crap, and in addition to carry the luggage down the lane, we had to haul it up the stairs, to the 5th floor. I did learn something from this, PACK LESS!
2. The highlight of my visit to Florence was to be a viewing of Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. But when our group arrived there today at 8:15am we couldn’t get in, the staff was on strike. I have heard of the Italian wildcat strikes at airports but a cultural attraction? There wasn’t even a picket line to spit at!
3. Italian time – I sort of understood about Italian time from being on the Italian Cruise line, Costa, nothing really started when it should. Today, after the disappointment of the strike, our group went on to the next items on our “to see” list. Nothing opened when it was supposed to, and when they get did get around too opening, if you asked about the delay – they would say “not New York, slow down, relax.” Okay then, I guess these people didn’t realize I only had 23 hours to see their amazing city.
4. Gypsy Pan Handlers and North African Counterfeit Street Sellers. The North African’s were especially bad in Pisa. From what I gather these two groups of people are not welcome in Italy, and therefore can’t get real jobs. As a result, they turn to illegal activities. While I did not like being harassed, I was totally impressed by the Polizia. In Pisa, when they walked down the street, the North African’s grabbed their merchandise and ran away. Today in an outdoor market in Florence I was being swarmed by Gypsy’s. Well in charged the Polizia and they sent them away, if that wasn’t enough, they were really nice (and cute) and informed me that Gypsy’s don’t just beg, they pick pocket too, so watch my bag. Talk about service! I say send Toronto’s Mayor, David Miller, to Florence to see how things should be done.
More things I wasn’t expecting, but Loved:
1. Florence and Pisa were so clean and welcoming. The attractions were maintained to look as close to the original as possible. The citizens were also happy we were there. Signage and information was geared to aid tourist in navigating the city, again, David Miller, take note.
2. Florence was set up for electric vehicles. Charging stations all over the place. Even the postman drove an electric three-wheeled car.
3. There is home delivery for fresh pasta, just like the milk man from bygone times. (BTW the pasta delivery vehicle was electric).
4. Five Geleteria’s on every block! Oh man Chocolate Gelato.
5. The countryside was just like in the movies, I thought it was too good to be true, but I am happy to be wrong.
Very good visit, but I need to go back, for at least a week, and take in the sights using Italian time.
