After our walk through the cemetery in Milano, we went back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and head for the train station to buy tickets to Firenze.
"You know about the strike?" he asks. At first I thought it was just the train service was on strike but I later found out that even plumbers are on strike, as well as the airline.
While the nice man tried to help me book tickets online, my super secure form of payment declined even after I had told my bank where I would be.
We hoofed it to the tram, then the metro, and then used the automated bigliette machine. Thankfully the private (and fast) trains still were running and had room. So, we took the 13:15 train and at 15:00 we arrived in Firenze.
Hot mess. Lots of tourists, humid warmth, and a tight beautiful town. The crowds remind me of Salzburg although sweaty and stinkier. I counted four tour groups in the Uffuzi Gallery, some with 40 plus participants.
Thankfully the ATM worked and after a call to the bank earlier they reported that no authorizations had come through. Ryan joked that the credit card network was on strike.
We made our daily supermarket run for water and I splurged for the €4 chianti. Since screwtops were relegates to the 1,5 liter boxed "Vino de Italiano e Belarus" I had to get a corked one and the cashier opened it for me. Without glasses in the room (we are going rustic with this three-story walk-up hotel) this calls for a straw. No straw either so, it is a pinkie.
Pre-walk we sat down for Mozzarella and Proscuitto An amazing treat. People watching in Piazza Republica. Then a Gelato (Pistachio for Ry and coffee for me.) Most transactions now come easier in Italian.
My body wants a nap but I know we should eat instead. We have a big day tomorrow. Time to wake Ry up!
- Ciao!
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