Florence

Today was our last day in Florence. 

The city is beautiful, breathtaking, but it is still rather hot. Today we toured Santa Croce (again, Room With a View - I like a theme) and took the bus up for one last view of the city. 

The church is impressive as ever, ornate, and architecturally impressive with elaborate graves of famous Florentines. The views were of course stunning. 

We stopped at a bar for cocktails. Sitting there in the shade our Venetian fan proved ineffective. Wafting hot air around isn't a particularly cooling experience. 

I find myself dreaming about wearing a jumper against a cool breeze. 

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Florence

Sight seeing and sleeping. 

In the morning we took a short tour of the city by bus, picking out places to see later. We stopped for lunch at a 'self service' cafeteria with the most bizarre system. They put your order on a tray but then you couldn't take it to your table, a waiter did. The delay in paying meant customers staring longingly at their cool drink but being told off for taking it, even after they'd paid. There were rows. 

After a trip to the pharmacist to get something for my ever extending mosquito bites, I made the executive decision to go back to the hotel for an afternoon nap, leaving Steve to explore on his own for a bit. 

In the evening we took the bus tour up into the Tuscan hills to Fiesole. Having earlier found a Baedeker in the book shop and staying in the Bertolini hotel I'm coming over all Room With a View. 

We finished the day in a small cafe drinking wine by the jug, reading books. 

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Venice to Florence

A walk through Venice and then a train journey cross country. We arrive in Florence to be greeted by tram works and hair dryer heat. It may be hotter than Venice but it is less humid. The walk to the hotel is warm but far less sweaty. 

The room is beautiful as is the hotel. 

We wander into the centre and are suitably taken by the sights. Back at the hotel for relaxing cool baths and lounging around.

In the evening we have cocktails on the roof top. 

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Hello Arno

Pigeon petrifies lion

Venice

Day two of the Biennale and our last day in Venice. It's boiling hot again. Shade and the free fan aren't much use but, we persevere. 

We visit the Scotland pavilion and the other main centre. I got over my dislike of performance and participation in the Russian pavilion and was charmed by the disneyesque delights of Austria. 

In the evening we went out for a meal. A wander down here and along there brought us to San Marco and its silly prices. Another few turns brought us back to a shop we had been searching for since we passed it on the first afternoon. Eventually we settled on a local cafe. I had pizza (surprise) and Steve had some deep fried sea creatures. He decided to have a brandy so I joined in. Quite taken by it. 

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Venice

It's too darn hot. 

We spent the day at the Biennale. After the walk to the venue in the scorching sun, the water and fans given on entrance made the ticket price worth it. 

The exhibition was a mix of stuff around the theme of an encyclopaedia. 

After having our arty fill we stepped back into the searing sun and walked through the crowds to San Marco. The queue for Basilica was long and shadeless. Instead we went to the Rialto. 

We stopped on the way for a normal sized beer and a glass of fizzy wine. Today it was my turn to learn a lesson: don't leave a man in charge of the bag. When I left Steve to pay the bill while I went to the shops I found him minutes later away from the table without the (shared, its not a handbag or anything ridiculous  like that) bag. Luckily the grumpy waitress had saved it for us.

In the evening we ate in the room then went out for night time drinks. We watched the street sellers throw glowing toys in the air. 

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Our hotel

The view

Venice

An early start but, in Venice by lunch. 

We got a taxi to the airport with a very chatty driver. He's hoping to go to Venice next year but went to Rome recently. Took a guided tour, saw the Pope. 

On line check in made things quicker and the less queuing, the less my nerves. On the plane on the front row I was distracted enough by the cabin crew's preparations to be fairly calm. 

On arrival in Venice we collected water bus tickets as we were waiting for our luggage. The boat sat low in the water and the windows were high so the view was mainly of posts sticking out of the water. Each with its own seagull. They drive on the right in the water too. 

Our carefully planned route to the hotel was thwarted by building works but, we made it here all the same. 

Our room is very Italian, marble and gold. It has air conditioning but by the evening it was struggling.

After a shower we wandered around sightseeing and getting lost. Back to the hotel for a rest and then out for tea (having found a supermarket) and drinks. I had a posh slush puppy and Steve ordered a litre of tap beer. When your waiter reacts with shock it should be a sign to revise your order. And when your girlfriend tells you that you don't want a litre you should listen. Lessons learned. 

Now I am eating breakfast in an opulent dining room stuffed with food. The waitress has just turned on the burner for crepe suzette.  

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Giant beer. Posh slushy.