Today we head to Florence! (Thursday July 17th)

We have heard so much about Florence...Tuscany, Siena, Lucca, the Duomo Cathedral ~ And we think of Stephanie - Nick's daughter who just loved Florence...OK Steph - Florence it will be!

We awoke - 6:50 am - time to get up and get ready!  We had a good nights sleep and it was time to pack and get to the tram that would take us to the train - The InterCity Train...at the Train Station Tirburtina -

We got outside the door and took one more

picture of our BnB - and off we went down the street.  Yes 2 suitcases & 2 backpacks and 2 daypacks too....we are on a roll again Nico!  Our legs & arms are getting more muscular  everyday! Well a work out anyway!  (Nick says maybe more "worn out!")

Finally we get to the street and yes...there is the Tram!




We arrived at the Tiburtina Station and

Nick purchased a ticket and the ticket person said there was a earlier train leaving in 20 minutes...do you want to take that one?  Oh yes said Nick -




This new "fast train station" Station Tiburtina was very nice indeed!"  Just recently opened we heard.

So off we went. - it is a 3hrs 48 min ride from Rome to Florence,  so we settled into our seats and had our suitcases close by too!

We took some nice pictures along the way...oh so pretty the hills of Italy!  It was green and lush with vineyards and olive trees...and houses clustered together here and there!  We saw a walled city way up on a mountain top...so quaint & cool!

It was a pleasant ride and smooth too!  It put us both to sleep...our heads bobbing!  Funny!

To the Left was that very fast train..you can tell huh?  And on the right was our train...still riding about 80 km an hr!

We arrived at the Florence "Frirenze" Avannti Station and couldn't believe how busy it was!  Loads of people coming from everywhere!  The coffee shops were jammed..the station had people coming and going!  Lots of people with suitcases and backpacks...it was amazing to see the crowds!

We went into a coffee shop too...wanting to get wifi so we could see if our next AirBnB people had responded...to our request for a  2 nights stay???  Yes they had  - but although the AirBnB internet sight said the room was available for the 17th & 18th - the hostess said it was not - only available for the 20th?  Oh well - that will not work...we need to have a place to sleep tonight!  Nick searched for some more rooms to rent...but everything was booked full!  He decided to look outside around the train station and yes...with some checking here and there..he found one!  Don't ask how much  though!!!!!

We crossed the street..to the hotel - Hotel Aurora!

Ah...nice...and a very nice Lobby and breakfast included - dah!!!! looking out of our window - the tent was most likely the breakfast sitting area outside!  Cute! The person at the Lobby chuckled when Nick showed him our personal card with our picture on it with us on the motorcycle...he laughed and was surprised we had been traveling already more then a year!

We settled into the room and then went for a walk!  The front desk pulled out a map for us and showed us where the Center of town was and the direction to walk it - no problem he said you can walk most everything here....Good!



So we did...we enjoyed stretching our legs...and getting familiar with Firenze, the town...and it is adorable!  Stephanie...you are right...it is a very very nice town and seems more cozy then BIG Rome!  There are plaza's and lots of beautiful buildings - we love the old look - and the authenticity of the city!  So much warmth!  People strolling - we saw a gigantic church...and was in awe again of the size it was!  How did those people do it so long ago???????????????????????????

 Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

 The River Arni - so beautiful this scene! 

This was kind of different we thought...houses on a bridge?  Then later we found out why!

Another Church ..so close by..also with so much history!  

 Florence Cathedral Duomo -
                                                 WOW!!!! It was Gigantic in size!

Wandering down the narrow cobblestone corridors it opened up all at once to this plaza...Stozzi - a well known plaza for its high class shopping!  All the big names were all around us...so expensive!
But a merry-go-round...now that was cute!

....it made me think of my little granddaughter...... "Hey Skyler look at Oma!  Skyler Likes?"

 ..................She would surely love that!

We heard some really lovely music being played...lots of well known songs.....and saw3 men playing there on the square....so we decided to have a bit to eat and enjoy the music - and how it sounds so pretty right in the middle of this square...almost like the building surrounding the Square made it even sound more beautiful!

and they played so' well... so' sweet and such romatic songs~         ...right there on the Plazza!

Gosh looks like a wedding picture...ha! 

  
 What a pretty sight huh?  So darling!

OK Mar...this one is "on you!" your favorite and you know...you got me hooked on it too...and I also love pesto spaghetti!  
But you know what?  I couldn't find it on the menu's - so I asked and here in Italy they call it here Pesto alla Genovese oh my so good and so "dangerous" Well actually the word "pesto" was not on the menu at all...so I look for the name of the town it originated from Genoa! 

We walked along the river Arno and took lots of pictures again!  Of Course!

Well it was 9 pm and time to head back to our "comfy room" and we were ready!

Now that I have all the pictures entered on the blog on Rome - I can go to sleep!  Yes~ it is time!