Under the Tuscan Sun

Another Red Bus Tour!!!!
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We left Riomaggiore by train and headed to Florence, albeit a little late due to inefficient Italian railways. Florence was warm and we treated ourselves to a hotel near the station for our last days in Italy. Wandered around the markets which had immense quantaties of leather goods, scarves, bags etc.

The next day we took the ubiquitous bus tour of the city stopping first at the Acadamie to see Michelangelo's David. An amazing statue that dwarfs everything else in the museum. Then we headed off to the Uffizzi Gallery, and yes we had to queue. Took just over an hour to get in. Some more amazing art works including Botticelli's Venus. This trip has seen us viewing many of the major art works of the world. We also went to the cathedral with it's impressive duomo and marble facade.

Outside the Uffizi.
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Been eating lots of pasta, pizza, bread and croissants so our meals here in Florence included Chinese and McDonalds!!!!

Our last day in Florence was a bit different. No art galleries, bus tours or museums. Instead we went out to a Tuscan Villa, Fattoria Di Maiano, that was used in the movies Tea With Mussolini and Room With A View. The villa had a view over the Tuscan countryside and Florence and was part of an olive growing estate owned by a Contessa. We had a guided tour of the villa along with wine tasting and a delicious lunch on the terrace overlooking the olive groves. A really great way to spend a day. Followed by a much needed walk back down the hill to get the bus back into town. The tour was done extremely well with a very knowledgeable guide who certainly added real interest to the whole day.

On the Ponte Vecchio
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The next day started with a Eurostar train (fast) to Rome then out to the airport to catch the plane back to Germany. But as always in Italy not so simple. Air Controllers strike, plane 3 hours late and Italian airport staff not much help. Didnt get back to Bad Rappenau till 8:30 at night . Still it was nice to be back and now it's time´to start preparing for those 50th birthday celebrations.