Tuscany-Florence 2009

Decided to return again to Tuscany this year. This time managed to find accommodation on the Web. Flew into Bologna and stayed 2 nights there. You have to get the Airport bus to Bologna to get to the train station. It was 5 euro one way, goes regularly so no complaints there. We stayed 2 nights in the Mercure Hotel opposite the train station. Had air conditioning and we didn’t bother with breakfast, just east al fresco. Glad we had air conditioning and immediately regretted not having done the same for Florence. I had forgotten how hot it becomes in early June in Italy. There wasn’t a lot to see in Bologna really but we did an enjoyable stroll around the centre and got a couple of buses to get a flavor of the place. The second day we went by train to Modena, a few miles from Florence. A medium sized town best known as the birthplace of Pavarotti and they have an Opera House named after him as well as a school of Opera and you could hear several aspiring new singers practicing in studios nearby. I had hoped to go to the Ferrari factory which was in Maranello but missed the local bus which only goes a couple times a day so had to do with a trip around the town in a Trolleybus and a bit of shopping and something to eat. Got some great cheap gifts in an Italian Euro shop.
The following day we went by Train to Florence. We went on the new Eurostar train as the regular train was nearly the same price and the Eurostar was more comfortable though not running anything near its possible top speed.
Had booked 2 rooms in Hotel Aline, should have realize that 30 euro was too cheap for a hotel room. The Hotel was supposed to be 15 minutes walk from the train station but we got lost and it took much longer than that. On the first night my bed collapsed as soon as I jumped into it. Looking underneath the bed was already broken and held together with broken bits of wood and ‘bluetak’. Not being able to find anyone to help I found another bed from a selection of beds located out on the fire escape. I managed to make up a bed from bits and pieces. And left the broken bed frame with the other bits on the fire escape.
Apart from the bed incident the only other complaint was getting bitten all over by bugs and the heat. Luckily being so tired every night meant I fell asleep quickly. Next time must remember to go for the dearer Hotel with proper beds and air conditioning.

We used Florence as a base and did several trips. We went by train to Pisa, Lucca and a fairly long trip to Assisi. Assisi was about 2 hours but it was a nice trip, and from Assisi station there was a bus to take you to the town. You can buy bus tickets in the train station. I found it easier to buy the train tickets at the automatic ticket machines. The queues at the ticket office were very slow. We got a coach to Siena as the train doesn’t go near the town. The coach station is a bit hard to find in Florence. If you are the Florence train station, the coach station is over beyond where they are building the new tram line terminus, and the temporary tourist office is also there. The Italian authorities seem reluctant to put up direction signs.
Within Florence we got a small bus, Bus 12 up and 13 back which brings you to Piazzale Michelangelo where there is a great view looking down on Florence. Further up the hill is San Minuito church, which has another great view and a long walk up. The bus terminus is just down from McDonalds which is opposite the trainstation.
You can get another local bus (number 7) to another hill top town called Fiesole, only takes about 15 minutes and you could go there in the evenings for a coffee or a meal in several cafes.
We didn’t go for any expensives meals, we ate mainly in the train station or grabbed slices of pizza outside, and McDonalds of course for snacks. There were 2 cafes we found quite useful. One was near the Duemo called Leonardos. It was upstairs over a shop. They had bottle openers hanging from the tables on chains. But it was honest local cooking and food was good. One of my friends was there last year and she loved the bottle openers as being the deal clincher. For a budget meal you could do no better than leonardos. Also easy to find was a corner café right opposite the Duemo. Bottegone was the name and really good value plus you can look out at the crowds admiring the Duemo.

Florence 2003

Florence trip.
Went to Florence in 2003, at the time couldn’t really find suitable accommodation and ended up staying outside in a Camp site near Figline. For some reason I don’t like to just arrive and book at the last minute. Back to the camp site, he accommodation was of the chalet type. It wasn’t ideal and it got very hot at night and opening the windows meant plenty of bugs and bites all night. Initially getting there was a long drawn out affair. We had booked to fly to Pisa airport, then a train to Florence, and another local train to Figline. Following booking instructions there was supposed to be a ‘free’ minibus up to the camp site. However there was no sign of anyone at the station. I rang the site and eventually a minibus arrived to pick us up and a Dutch couple who arrived on the same train. Arriving at the site our taxi driver demanded payment or a tip. Well he had no English but he stuck his hand out, obviously asking for payment. Two euro was given the look of disdain so I upped it to four euro, no response so I decided to offer the international sign of having no more money, which is the two hands held out apart. He then decided to release our bags and then the same tip was asked from the Dutch couple to release their bags.
We did ask when checking in at the site about the free bus service and we were told its only free as in its ‘freely’ available upon request depending if a car or minibus was available or not. The camp also had devised its own system for paying for meals and buying things in the on site shop. You were given a special credit card and you bought credit in advance. Apparently this was to avoid having to carry cash and to prevent thefts etc. We were told you couldn’t use cash on the site. Later it turned out the system was just Italian nonsense, all the shops took cash if you asked. No one wanted to turn down cash, I imagine the camp site got a cut from all the purchases on the credit cards which the shops wanted to avoid?
Most days we did manage to get a free lift down to the train station as most of the staff was much friendlier than the minibus driver and we also availed of cheap coach trips to Siena and San Gimiano. Again going for the cheap coach trip meant the coach invariably had non-working air conditioning. I guess the air conditioning hadn’t worked for years.

Nice 2009

Only went to Nice in 2008 but we have decided to return. Firstly its easy to get to from Ireland, the Airport is near the City. Also good transport links, even better food and hopefully good early Autumn weather. Last time Missed out on a trip aboard the Nice-Digne railway, we ran out of time. This is a privatly owned narrow gauge mountain railway sometimes known as the 'train des Pignes' which roughly translates to the train of of Pine Cones. Probably quite a bumpy ride and the coaches are quite old but the scenery and fresh air should be worth it. Not sure if there are any catering facilities on the train so we will stock up before we go with fresh french bread and fresh food and have a picnic. Probably Mum will bring a little bottle of white wine. We had a similar trip last time on the 'Train de Mervilles which went on a different route to Tende and the photo here is from that trip.
Going to stay in the same hotel as before. Its was in need of a bit of painting last time, but the food was a bonus and it s very near the train station and the new tram. Also right beside the main restaurant area and there is a load of small shops nearby for Mum to rummage around.

Another one of Mums stories, to get your teeth stuck into.

Dracula
From an early age I was a great reader. Nothing compared to a great book for passing the time. I read all the books in the children’s library in Thomas Street by by Charlos Kindesley, secondly “ the Turf Cutters Donkey “ by Patricia Lynch. And it wasn’t long before I had read all the books in the children’s section and was looking forward to when I could go in to the Adult section. The great day finally arrived and I feasted on Annie M.P. Smythsons, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, and the Bronte Sisters.
On one occasion I saw the book “Dracula” by Bram Stoker and thought “this looks interesting” I brought it home and was soon immersed in it, meals went cold while I’D finish a chapter, finally my Father said “ what book is she reading?” He took the book to have a look at it “Jesus Mary and Joseph!” He exclaimed, “ I don’t believe what I’m seeing, no wonder he is walking in her sleep, bring the book back at once to the library”
I had to bring the book back to the library although I was only halfway through it, I tried to think of ways to finish it. I hid the book in the library behind some other books so no one would borrow it and planned to take it out again.
Another day I went up to the library and took the book out again and secreted it down my gymslip. Where to hide it was the problem, as my Mother had “eyes in the back of her head” We had an outside toilet with an overhead cistern. So I decided on top of that cistern would be a good hiding place. I stood on the seat of the toilet and put “Dracula” on top of the cistern. I spent a good few times out there reading it. Bit by bit. And there my memory stood still until about 40 years later on a fortnight’s holiday with Lena my sister. We talked our heads off as you can imagine being together all day and night for 2 weeks. Somebody mentioned another tour he was on to Transylvania and the castle of “Dracula”
And Lena said “ Oh Yes Betty, you must remember you got yourself constipated reading that book” What on earth are you talking about, I said to her. “Don’t you remember getting a dose of Castor Oil when you were reading Dracula?” She said.
Suddenly it dawned on me. My Mother had not been fooled by me at all. I remembered coming in out of the toilet. My Mother stood before me with a large spoonful of castor oil saying “ you are spending a lot of time in the toilet, you must be constipated. Open your mouth and swallow this”, which I duly did and promptly forgot all about it. They knew all the time about my secret reading but obviously decided to let it go.
I thought there are lessons to be learned from this.
There are times when rearing children you have to turn a blind eye to some of their escapades and pretend you don’t notice. How wise my Mother was to know that come hell or high water I was determined to finish the book and decided not to make an issue of it.
As for myself I can still get lost reading a book I remember a couple of years ago early one morning stirring the porridge with a spoon in one hand and Dr. Zhivago in the other hand.

Coming Soon

Mum is just about to release her latest short story. Ressurected from the past.