Florence, monday 24th February 2020

Monday, 24th February, 2020

Today we are going into Florence to explore it via the city sightseeing bus. We have decided to take the tram into the city, and go on from there. So we make our way to the tram stop which is just a block away, and et the tickets and board the tram when it comes and we get off at the Rail station in the city centre. Next we have to get the tickets for the bus tour, and they are obtained at the rail station at the tourist office, which makes things very convienent. We ask the guy about where the stop is, and we follow his directions, and in no time we have found the place. As we arrive at the stop, there is a bus arriving, so we have timed everything very well, and board the bus for the first route, which takes about an hour, and do the full route, before changing to the other route. The first trip is a very fast trip, as the commentary doesn't seem to match up with where we are, but we are getting accustomed to this. We listen to the audio guide as best we can, and then we get back to the first stop, and stay on, as we have to continue on this one, to change over at Michelangios plaza, which is a lookout overlooking Florence.
We get to this point and disembark, and take a few pics and look at the venders and looking at the wares they have for sale. They  are mainly souviners of Florence, and some scarfes and beanies. The day is a little bit murcky, and not much sun about as the bus has the top closed over.
We find the point for the second route, and hop on board. This is a 2 hr trip, and we haev decided that we will not do the whole route, as we have done some of it on the first one. That way we can get of at a stop that is closest to the tram stop. This tour takes us out of Florence, and up into the hills of Fiesole, which is 9 kms away. Fiesole, has been settled since 283 BC although there are nothing documented about this, but artefacts have been found. Over the 18th and 19th century if became the place to be for the english to settle.
When the tour comes to our point for us to get off, we do this and find our way back to the tram station, and once again we are headed back to our accommodation. Travelling on the tram has made the day easy, and it is not very  costly.
After we get back to the unit, we take a rest, and then we head out again, we have a box to send back to Australia, so we find the postal place, and park the car and go in to send the box away. It was somewhat expensive, but cheaper than excessive baggage on a plane, and then to ad more pain, we have got a fine on the windscreen of the car. We now head of in the direction of  the shopping centre to get somethings for tea, and for the meal tomorrow night. The centre we have gone to seems to be ridiculously busy.
We get what we need and head back to the unit.     

Tuesday, 25th February, 2020

Today, we are going back into Florence, to explore further, and to see a few of the famous things that are around. Again we take the tram back into the city centre, and we are headed for the Statue of David, at the Accdemia Gallery, which is just over one km from the tram stop. On our way there, Bob discovers that his wallet is not in his man bag, but he tells me he thinks it is on the table back at the unit. So we continue onwards to our first point of interest, and we get there, to join in the rest of the people who are lined up. After about 15 mins we gain entrance to the gallery, and pay our fees and go in to see the famous statue by Michelangelo. Inside the gallery, not only is there the statue of David, but there are 4 other statues that have not been completed by Michelangelo. There many other peices of works by other artists and paintings of all sizes, by many famous people. The sheer size of some of these works is amazing,  and how they managed to work at such magnitudes to get such wonderful artwork finished, is beyond me.
After we finish looking here,  we go in search of the Ponte Vecchio, an old bridge that is lined with gold and Jewellery shops. Along the way there are many shops selling leather goods, another thing that Florence is famous for.
On our way,  we come across many statues and fantastic buildings. One of which was the cathedral Santa Maria di Fiore. Such a huge place with many parts of the building decorated with statues. The line up to get  inside was very long.  We just admired what we could from the outside and that was amazing enough. We keep walking and get to the Ponte Vecchio. There are so many little shops along the side of the bridge, each selling many similar peices of Jewellery. I keep window shopping,  as the prices are or of my pocket,  but it is nice to look.
After we cross the bridge we take time you have an ice cream and as we are in there,  a man starts singing in the shop.  He has an amazing voice and it fills the room.  Passersbys stop and listen and phones are recording this little impromptu recital.
After we have finished our ice cream, we head back over the bridge, and head for the tram stop.  We get there yet again,  just as it arrives and we are heading back to our unit.
When we get back inside the unit,  Bob looks for his wallet, and to his dismay,  it is  not on the table where he thought it was.  Hge had been pick pocketed again, and we are at a loss as to where and when it happened.  The theif, must have unzipped his bag,  taken the wallet out and zipped it back up.
He then goes online to see if any activity had been happening on his account, and there had been,  so now there are phone calls made to the bank, after he had to go out and get another sim as his current one just ran out of phone credit. Thankfully we had the foresight to put a credit card of his in my care,  and it has been a very thankful thing that we did this.  At least he still has  access to his finances.
Another day has been filled.

Wednesday, 26th February, 2020

Today,  we are leaving Florence and heading  to Genoa via Pisa. So after an early start, as Bob was awake early,  we have breakfast,  and then start the process of packing up things and restocking the car. This is going to be a trip of around 3hrs and 16 mins, and 242 kms. After we have done this we make our way to find the police station, to report of Bobs pickpocketing. After some walking, we eventually find the station,  and Bob hands over his printed statement to the office, and after a while Bob is ushered into another room, I wait in the waiting room. Bob comes out after a little while and because he has printed out his statement, it has made it a bit easier. One of the items that was in Bob s wallet, was the parking fine, and Bob askes the officer aobut it, and he said that he did not know what to suggest to him, and that he didn't think that people should be booked outside the post offoice,  as this was Florence.
We navigate our way out of Florence, and head for Pisa, a distance of 85 kms and an hour and 20 mins. Once we get to Pisa, finding a park is proving a little tricky. But the leaning tower of Pisa is visable before we get into the town. Pisa itself is a smallish community, but with all the tourist, it makes if a bit busy. We find a park and take it. It is not to far from the attraction, and we walk to the Leaning tower.
It is a remarkable building. The tower is a free standing bell tower, and it has a four degree lean, as a reult of unstable foundation. The height of the tower, is 55.86 meters, on the low side, and 56.67 on the high side. It was built in the 12th century, and as a result of the unstable ground, it started to lean. Also in the square, is a Cathedral, and a Baptistry. All are amazing buildings. with so much detail on the buildings, and even though we didn't go inside, they were still wonderful.
We go back to the car, and head off to Genoa, where we will spend 2 days, and return the car to the hire company.
We find our motel, and it looks a bit dodgy from the outside, and agian parking is an issue, we have to do the block again, and then park. We walk to the hotel, and check in, but only after we have checked out the room. The first room we looked at was not suitable, as there was no lift to the second floor, and as we have quite a lot of stuff that has to go inside, we asked if there was one on the first floor, and we were shown another room, of which we decided we would make work, as this motel, is just across from the cruise terminal.
So we unload the car, taking up most of the stuff, and Bob takes the option of parking the car in the garage, for an additional price.
We take a rest, and then we go out for a walk to see what is about the local area, looking for somewhere to eat, but we head back to where we are staying, and eat at their little resturant, which was good as it turned out, and the man who runs it was very accommodating.
We retire for the day, and it has been great, and yet another thing is ticked off the bucket list. 


Thursday, 27th February, 2020

Today, we took a walk to find out where the MSC cruise terminal is, and after some wrong turns, on my part, we find where we have to go tomorrow, and we were advised that it would be good to use a taxi, and that we had to have a ticket to get inside.
So we walk in the other direction, as I want to get some nail polish remover, to take off my nail polish, and after some time and walking we find the shopping centre that isat the Ferry terminal. As we walk inside, we notice that there is a place for hertz car hire, so we go in  and make inquires as to if we can leave the car here, instead of having to go to the airport. The lady says that it is possible for us to leave the car there. This is a bonus, as it is within walking distance from our motel, and means we don't have to use a taxi to get back to our motel.
We walk back to the hotel, and rest. A few hours later, we go to the car, and take it back to the hertz car rental place, and as we get there it is starting to rain. We go inside, and do the paper work, and the car is looked over, and all is finished. We have returned the car without any scratches or dents.
We walk back to the hotel, and the rain has stopped. We have decided to eat what is left over from last night, and there is some yoghurts and oranges that we have to consume before tomorrow.
Day is done. 

Friday, 28th February, 2020

After breakfast at the hotel, we finish packing up what we are going to take, what we are going to throw away, and the stuff we have to leave behind in the hope that someone might be able to use it.
We get a the reception to call us a taxi around 9.30, and it is here within 5 mins, very quick. The Taxi driver was very good, and took us straight to where the luggage is. When we get there, there is a lot of porters, willing to help and get our luggage aboard the ship. So starts the cruise, and  the next league of our trip.
One of the main things that has been concerning both Bob and I is the Coronavirus, and if the ship is going to have any issues with calling into some of the ports. We have both been thinking about different sceneios  with all of this. and I have just been stressing about what ifs. We fill out the survey about where we have been in the past few weeks, and then we wait to have our temperture taken, and a thremal scan done. Thankfully, we both get clearance, and that is a huge concern lifted. Although I know we were both very well, one never knows. Particulary when we have been travelling. So now we wait to go through check in, and that happens around 11am. We get onto the ship around 12ish, after everything has been scanned and passports checked.
We are welcomed on board, and a staff member takes us to some seating to go through the drinks package, that we have not yet taken advantage off, but we decide that we don't want it.  We now have to wait for a couple of hours until our cabins are ready, and after a while we go exploring of the ship, and head to the welcome buffet.
We get into the cabins after 2pm, and settle ourselves into it. We are summonded to do a mandatory training drill of how to put on life jackets and where to assemble.
A bit later, we go to the buffet for dinner, and then it is day done.

Saturdy, 29th February, 2020

Day at sea,


Sunday, 1st March, 2020

Today we are going ashore at one of the islands of Greece. We have to be at the theatre for the meeting point of   all the tours and ours is at 1pm. After we have had a hearty breakfast, which was not until 9.30, we filled in time until we were needed to be at our meeting point.  Our tour is of Olympia, and a wine and olive estate.
After going through the process of everyone getting on the right buses, we are boarded onto a bus, and our tour begins. Our guide's name on the bus is Demitorus and the drivers name is Yanis. We are headed to Olympia, the very first place where the olympics began. After a trip of 45 mins, and our guide telling us all the important things about this place, we arrived to our first stop. The guide tells us about this place called Olympia, on the Peloponnese penisular of southern Greece. This is an archaeological site which has ruins of the former great buildings that once existed there. The first olympic contest that started here was in 776BC and in essence, it was a contest of warriors of the times in the art of defending themselves in war times. The term athelete, comes from the Greece and means contestant in the games. The term is reserved to people with a high level of dedication  and skill.
The ruins were once dedicated to Zeus, and there is the remains of a temple to him, as well stadiums of which the atheletes would have competed. There would have been a stadium for the runners, and instead of having on oval to run around, they would have been inside this stadium, and run from one end to the other a number of times, depending on the competation they were in, but there was never any marathons. We also learned that there would have been contests in wrestling and boxing, as there is archaeological items showing that they would have worn gloves for boxing, and without the gloves would have meant boxing. There was also another event they had way back then that is much like the martial arts of now. Pretty amazing stuff. We wander through the paths about the ruins, and it is amazing to think that it all started here. The reason why the Olympics are every 4 years, is that way back then, the contest would rotate to different areas, each year, but in the fourth year it would be back in Olympia.
The buildings were made out of limestone from the area, and they  have fossils in them. One of the buildings that is there has a marble base, which historians believe that somone of immense wealth had bought the materials for the construction of this site, probably a King or Emperor. We also learned that many statues were made in Bronze of the winning athletes, and they would have had their names underneath, along with their sponsers... So as it is now as it was back then. 
After some time here, we get on board the bus again and head for the winery and olive farm. It is only about 20 mins away, and when we get there we are greeted by the owners of the farm, the mother and her two sons, and also a glass of wine and a snack. This was very welcome, and then we are divided into three groups, one english speaking, one french and one german I think it was. We are shown how the olives are grown and harvested and the process of how the oil is obtained. After this, we are then ushered into the jewellary shop, of which the mother helps to design some of the pieces. There are many beautiful things, and Bob insists that I get something as a momento our visit. Eventually I do, after much indecision, as prices are not shown, and me being me, this scares me, as I like to see how much things are. Anyhow, I decide, and make sure Bob likes what I have choosen, and when I am told the price, a little gasp escapes me. But someone is insistant, and a matching pair of earrings are also added to the Bangle that I have choosen. It is at this time I get emotional, and the sales lady is very accommodating, and then of all things the guide happens to walk by and notices that I am all emotional. I guess they like it when customers are overwhelmed as it means it is truely appreciated.
After we exit the shop, we are again ushered into another room, but this is a eating hall. It is set up with food on plates, and wine and water. On the bus we were told we would be having wine, food and dance, so now here we are with the food and wine. An explaination is given about the food that is on our plates, all traditional Greek food,  and then we start to eat. I really enjoyed the food, and just as most of us were finishing, there is a display of Greek dancing, and of course, we are all invited to join in, of which most of us do. Bob included. It was good fun, and the whole experience was wonderful.
We get back on board the bus, and head back to the ship. Our guide was very good, and he made sure we were  well informed. When we get back to the ship, we have the usual checking in of cards, and scanning of items that we have.
Bob and I go and have some tea, then after that, I go and watch the show that is in the theatre.
It has been a great day.