TRAVELS IN FLORENCE
 
 
Eventually, an old lady, one of the building's permanent residents, came out and we snuck in. The foyer is...gloomy. The stairwell is grey painted cement and the B&B is on the 3rd floor. Oh joy. However, we tried the elevator and found it serviceable, and smooth, if so small that we had to ride up one at a time with one suitcase each. So, we arrived outside the B&B's inner door, and we rant and we knocked, and no one answered. Uh-oh. Tim got out the confirmation. Yes, the dates were correct. 'Kay. Fortunately, we also had a phone number and these nifty EU standard mobile phones we'd rented ahead of time. So, we called. Blessedly, Our Host, Matteo, answered and said he'd be there in five minutes. 
 Note to Self: When staying in a B&B in unfamiliar city, call from airport to make sure Host knows you're on your way. A young couple from UK also showed up (they had not been able to get the elevator to work and had to schlep there cases up the stairs) & were very glad to hear the host was on the way. Oh, good, it wasn't just us. Matteo duly showed up and we checked in. The room is very basic, but it has a private bath and a comfy bed and AC and everything is clean. We showered, changed, rested and then hit the street. We are a street of shops, trattoria, and hotels and hostels of all types. The European Student Association is down the block. Plenty of places were open, although it was a Sunday afternoon. We found the Central Market area and sort of slid past the stalls of clothing and leather goods. Didn't see anything to make me stop. What did make me stop was the mask shop. Oh, MAN. I am SO going back there when it's open. To see photos of Via Faenza, click here. By now, I was tired and hungry, so we stopped at one of the gelato & sandwhich shops we'd passed. English was spoken very well and the whole pine nut situation was easily understood. Our host's reaction? "You sit down. We make conversation, then we help you." Gratzi. we eventually agreed a cheese omelette would help me. And it was simple and yummy and helped a whole lot. Tim had spaghetti in pomodoro sauce and felt ably assisted thereby. We walked a bit more, looking for the place where Tim's conference was to be. 
Failed to find same. Came back to B&B. Time tracked down conference center while I napped. V.V. tired. Was awake enough to join Tim for the conferences opening reception and afterwards we decided to try one of the multiple trattoria on our street. The one we picked was Nerone. Nice exposed brick, elaborately muralled, Italianate kitch kind of place. The waitress's English was limited, so I gave her one of my NO PINENUTS (I am deathly allergic to pine nuts) cards a test drive. Worked like a charm. Understood clearly, and taken seriously. Tim and I both opted for the simple grilled chicken breast with roast potatoes. 
It came with a basket of bread. Pause here for a word about the food in Florence. O.M.G!!! It was simple, flavorful and just the right portion size. The bread though...my GOD is Tuscan bread delicious! Solid, crusty, flavorful, creamy on the inside and sort of pretzel tasting on the outside. It didn't have butter or oil and it didn't need it. Dessert for me was a dish of strawberries with lemon and sugar and a cafe latte. 
  Also extremely good. Tim held out for a chocolate gelato from across the street. 
  And the gelato is all you have heard, and then some. Strolling back home, alas, I had my first in-country panic attack, probably from the infusion of caffine and sugar. But, thankfully, I was able to read it for what it was, and it passed quickly. Note to self: Florence coffee is stronger than you are used to. Drink SPARINGLY. Now to bed. V.V.V. tired. P.S. Also called home. All is well. Bed now. V.V.V.V. tired.Florence%20Photos%201.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
The B&B door, however, was closed, and locked, and nobody answered the buzzer. Uh-oh.
 
SARAH'S FLORENCE TRAVEL DIARY, DAY 1 It is 3:50 pm and I am sitting at Gate 28 in the McNamera terminal of Detroit Metro. So far, everything has gone very smoothly. We hit the airport in good time, found a parking spot easily, checked in sans problem and even made it quickly through security. Evidently late on a Saturday afternoon is not prime travel time. The only thing which is not making me happy is the flight has just been delayed 15 minutes. I REALLY hope this is not a sign of things to come. We're going to have to go through customs in Amsterdam as that's our EU entry point, and we only have 3 hours to make the connection. Still, we shall keep a good thought. Tim has gone off to find an electrical outlet. There's a man next to me passing the time sketching the various scenes. 
 The couple across from me is speaking RUssian to each other and the man is reading Vonnegut’s PLAYER PIANO. Travel is the time when stories intersect and are born. 8:35 pm Central European Time WEll, here we are at the gate in Amsterdam airport. The flight was smooth. 
 There was occasional turbulence but it tended to vanish before I had a chance to get thoroughly worked up about it. In-flightd entertainment is very good these days and I was even able to catch something of a nap. The trip through the airport was smooth too, which was a pleasant surprise. 
 I have friends who have had great difficulties with their connections at this airport. I don't know if we were lucky in our choice of destinations or airlines, but we got through security in good time and found our gate sans hassle. We are told our luggage is checked through. We shall see. But so far, all is right an it is clear and sunny outside. 9:10 pm CE Time We have arrived and a little bit more. We had a lovely, smooth flight down from Amsterdam. The alps are gorgeous from a height and it made me want to see those valleys and lakes close up. we got in early. No problem with retrieving baggage. Customs was really non-existent. we found the taxi rant and by doing as the guide book suggested and fixing a price with the driver ahead of time, we got a ride straight to our B&B for 25 euros.