European holiday continued...off to Florence & the Almalfi coast

Today we continue our European holiday series of posts travelling through Venice, Florence and onto Positano.  The first post started us off living it up in Paris and last week mountain goating it through Switzerland.

DAY 11 - JUNE 2 - FLORENCE
After a sleep in and another run around the small park in Venice, we have decided to have a day out on the water, seeing the islands around Venice which are apparently very nice.  For 10 euro each, we got some 24 hour passes which will also take us to the train station in the morning.

Lido - Venice

We started off at the Lido - Venice beach resort.  Full of students, chock a blocka and tanning. It is not a manmade island so cars are allowed, bit of a shock really.....The water is quite dirty and blackish sand, great atmosphere though.

Next stop was Burano, a beautiful little island, apparently how Venice used to be and full of colourful Villa's.  Bit of a tourist mecca now with everyone is looking for that special souvenir.  After a quick stop at Tronchetto we headed back to Venice.

It was amazing to see the waterways and how they have plans of closing it all up to allow for a large tidal gate at times of neap tides....quite a feat if they ever decide to do it. Global warming is a true concern for this place.

Back at Venice we tried the famous Il Doge gelati near the Accademia.  It was beautiful as expected!  It was a spectacular and funfilled day with lots of ferries and walking.  Early to bed tonight and moving onto Florence in the morning. Have felt a little bit out of touch in Venice - no cars, no TV, can't read anything...and a little window in room.  Funny part here was that after a few days we finally found the shower after using the bidet come sink thing and hand towels to scrub ourselves down.  I am like a fish that just needs to feel water past my gills and even contemplated jumping into the polluted waterways!!

DAY 12 - JUNE 3 - FLORENCE

Morning run then onto the Vaporetto to catch the 10.20am train to Florence.  The ride was great and arrived at around 1.30pm and walked to our accommodation at the Remo Sani , plonked our bags and headed back to the train station.  It really is nice here with cobbled streets and all very close and in proximity to everything.

Florence

Our room is beautiful and right next door to Dante's house.  At 3.00pm we caught the train to Pisa to get a glimpse of the leaning tower, distracted by shops along the way...Andrew just had to have a piece of Pizza in Pisa! Bit rough around the edges here, didn't want to hang around til dark.

On the train by 6.30pm and back to Florence, and we stopped for a calzone at 3.50 euros each and fell into bed. We have a/c, fridge, tv so great room find!.  We have been getting woken by church bells at 7am in every town in Italy so far. Nothing opens until 10am.

DAY 13 - JUNE 4 - FLORENCE

Today I woke with my neck in whiplash..great...so decided to walk along the river and see the Ponte Vecchio bridge.  We stopped off for breakfast at a cafe first where it is served as part of the room rate. Cake, croissant,  bread, jam and coffee.  I think I am going to turn into one large bread stick soon!

Next we ventured out shopping, to check emails etc then headed over to the museum for the next but  found out that they are booked up for the next month...looks like we are lining up in the morning which apparently you can do to make the shortlist.

We had chicken and salad in our room...was just craving something leafy and then went for a sunset walk up to the Michaelangelo Piazza.  It is on a hill with an amazing view over the city, so worthwhile (and romantic;)  Home for a read, something I have been doing is reading up about the history in the lonely planet guides as I go.

Tomorrow we are going to Uffizi and Accademia museums, starting to miss my routine of home so staying busy keeps me occupied.  Such a terrible traveller when I get homesick!

DAY 14 - JUNE 5 - FLORENCE

We lined up for the Uffizi Museum at 7.30am, for a opening of 8.15am - the line wasn't too bad and probably got in the door by 9.00am.  We saw Michealangelo paintings etc.  Interesting to see but I don't have a great connection to them...We decided to give Accademia a miss, it is where the statue of David is but there is a replica down the road...I know, I know but the museums just aren't cutting it. I much prefer scenery.

The view from Fiesole

We set off to Fiesole up the valley; it is a beautiful little tuscan village with a view over Florence.  The houses are just postcard stuff and so pretty.  After catching the bus back we headed out for Pizza and Calzone. We have been averaging dinner on about 10 euros a night so not too bad!!

In the morning we are off to Sorrento, can't wait to get to the coast and away from the city.  Half way through the trip now!!

DAY 15 - JUNE 6 - SORRENTO

I went for an hour run early, before we caught the 9.20am to Naples.  Naples was really intimidating with pick pocketers spotted. We jumped on the first train to Sorrento!

Sorrento

Our accommodation is at Tasso House and it is great - big room, a/c, tv, own shower and balcony..  After a leisurely walk around town, looking at shops, the marina and we settled for dinner at a pizzeria (fancy that!) where I sourced a salad. We were so tired and slept well.

It is interesting to note how the housing styles have changed along our trip.  The Tuscan style is now turning more 'western' and they are losing a bit of their uniqueness.  The weather has been great and we are yet to hit the ocean.

I love this little seaside town and can't wait to explore more around it tomorrow.

DAY 16 - JUNE 7 - SORRENTO

Ran up to Masso about 12kms all up and back for breakfast of tea and crossiants (with nutella on them!!) Today we headed up to Pompeii about 20 mins away.  It was pretty much straight off the train and onto the archaeological site.  It is huge and amazing with that they have recovered.

Pompeii

We saw some bodies that have been frozen in action from the huge volcano eruption.  We walked around for about 5 hours, to think that an entire village was destroyed within a few minutes...amazing.

After a rest we headed out for dinner and some more window shopping and down to the harbour to suss out the ferry timetable.  We sat and watched the boats go by which was just one of those moments where I had to pinch myself.  We are off to Amalfi tomorrow along the coast past the Isle of Capri with a stop at Positano.  Feeling like a movie star now.

TBC - next week...the Italian coastline and onto Rome!