We arrived in wonderful Florence in a rush, by train which topped its speed at 266 kms per hour. The trip wasn’t as interesting as we had hoped as most of it was through tunnels, with only brief seconds of views of the world as we sped through stations, and into the nether world again.

Gleaming in the evening rain

Our hotel, L’Orologio, is wonderful. Our room is on the 4th floor and overlooks the Basilica Santa Maria Novella and a Piazza of the same name.

Orologio means clock in English. Needless to say everything is clock themed, from the posters boasting such famous names as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Bruege … you get the drift. There are actual clocks on the walls too, from very old to very new.  However only two of them tell the correct time!  The hotel brand name goes beyond this, with everything including glassware and plates in the breakfast room boasting the logo. In our room the towels and bath robes tell the same tale.  Even the loo paper has the L’Orologio seal! Oh, and did I mention the chocolates on our pillows, and our beds turned down?

Ilze at breakfast in our hotel

il Duce relaxes in our hotel reading room

Today the Florence Marathon was held, and the city was awash with visitors and spectators.  We wandered down to the Ponta S Trinita to watch the proceedings and waited, and waited, and waited……. for something to happen and finally after about an hour it did. The first competitors to appear were the recumbent cyclists, being much faster than the runners. There was even a blind recumbent cyclist with his guide on a bicycle. He got a huge cheer as he passed by.

The three best male runners in the world were here, Bekele, Kishogi and Boufas, who of course finished first, second and third.  They came around the corner and ran past so quickly I barely had time to focus my camera.

The best female runners were well up. Difficult to see the leader from the United Kingdom,  Piasecki, but Ethiopia’s Terfera was second.

As we crossed the Ponte Vecchio the last competitors, walkers, were crossing, heroes every one. We gave them a big cheer. They were enjoying every moment.

Guess

After all the excitement of the Marathon (the first I have ever seen) we continued across the Ponte Vecchio to the Boboli Gardens, which were the private gardens of a very wealthy family. We climbed a steep hill (the first climb of any note since the bridges of Venice) for a wonderful view of Florence.

Of course its Florence

Gardens

Then back down the hill and off to the Palazzo Pitti to see how the extremely wealthy lived.  Plenty of stairs to climb, to rooms of awesome dimensions with equally awesome ceilings, and Murano chandeliers everywhere. Must have been awfully cold in the winter without electricity though!

Side entrance

Its an Urn

Then back to our hotel to rest before our excursion this evening to find a restaurant for dinner.

Everybody looks at  David and misses the Medici’s hidden passageway going into the upper floor

A fine sunny day forecast tomorrow for our last day here, before we head off to Milan, our last stop before flying home. To weeks have gone quickly.

Ilze x

Kathy Liley, we wish you a speedy and complete recovery.  You are in our thoughts.