Aug 13

August 13 – A Tuscany Walkabout Tour

PisaThis was one dang early morning. Had to get up at 7:00am to get ready, eat and walk to our tour bus site.
Anywhere where they offer “Walkabout” tours, I highly suggest you booking one. We loved it and so did everyone else. We talked with many people and I only heard accolades for the tour guide, driver and places visited.
The hotel said it was the number one booked tour.
I will give a short recap, as if I wrote everything, you may get tired of reading.
Our tour guide was Alessandro, who was funny, interesting, informed, professional and kind hearted.
The tour is called, “The Best of Tuscany Tour”, which takes you to Siena, a Tuscany farm and vineyard for a great lunch, followed by a visit to San Gimignano and Pisa in that order.

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Aug 12

Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence

Ania, michel and tjWe wanted to get out of the busy city hubbub, so we decided to take a public bus to Piazzale Michelangelo to experience the great renaissance artist’s Florence from above. It was also near a camping where Han’s family used to camp at in the late fifties and early sixties.
It took quite some time to find the bus location (even the tourism office sent us wrong and then to purchase tickets., which happens to be any tobacco shop. I cannot even remember how many times we heard, “it’s over there” with a quick point of the finger and then dismissed. We went to the tourist office and found out you buy the tickets right outside at the bar set up. Wrong! The bar owner pointed at a store across the road and told us they were the ones selling bus tickets. By the time we walked all over looking for buses and tickets, we were already hot and tired, but was nice to settle onto the bus until it began jarring my brains apart going over the roads. It is a fairly rough ride up, but definitely worth the scenery and experience. Best deal for the price too; Euro 1.20 p/p with a ticket duration of 90 minutes.

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Aug 11

Florence is Flavorless

tj eating gelatoSo there are about 50 tour people, ages 20’s and 30’s, staying at the hotel which is located conveniently close to the main train station, just a couple of block from the famous ‘Duomo’. As always with groups, we were rudely awakened this morning at 2:30am by slamming doors and screaming and laughing. Yep, it sure started our morning off real nice.
Was able to sleep a little more then had some breakfast and spoke to the front desk. These travel agents are nice but when they see and hear them come in loud, drunk and obnoxious, then something should be said about a little respect for others.
Well, coffee helped quite a bit.
My assessment of Italy so far is still Go to Prague!
It would be perfectly wonderful, if not for the Italians.

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Aug 09

August 9 – Just Say “No” To Genova

Statue in Port of GenoaThere are so many titles I could use for this particular blog entrance, but most were not too complimentary.
To put it in a nut shell, we stumbled across Genova’s version of the red light district where street walkers, priests and police abide. It was quite interesting and entertaining, especially when I wanted to take a picture of one of the lovely streets and the women all scattered out of the camera’s eye and immediately around the corner was a gorgeous church on the Via Stefania Moro. They did not offer candles to be purchased, but instead had fake slender bulb candles that would light up once you inserted the appropriate amount of money. I am fairly sure this is done due to candle theft. I even found a craft store in this district and bought a small gift for one of my daughters.

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Aug 08

August 8 – Cannes Via Bus To Genova > What A Difference

tunnelsOMG! I woke up pissed off today. After not falling asleep until 12:30, I was woken at 2:15 by loud talking and disgusting smell of thick cigarette smoke. Our hotel is supposed to be smoke free. Even when I DID smoke, I could not stand sleeping in hotels that allowed it, as there is nothing more gross than sleeping in an ashtray.
I called down to reception and sternly stated my grievance, as this is the second time we have smelled smoke.
I guess the front desk clerk came upstairs because it became quieter, yet the smell of cigarettes hung in the air for the rest of the night. Then having to wake up at 7:00am to meet the bus, did not make me a pleasant person for the other front desk person to greet.

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