last leg (s)

where does time go? 10 days to catch up since last post. Spent two nights in Arezzo and on Sunday trained back to Florence in time to beat the strike. Had booked into Hotel Centrale in Firenze and probably the best (3 star) hotel that I've stayed in all trip. So if anyone is planning a trip there - I can tell you more about it. For the 2nd and 3rd nights - only E50, including a pretty good breakfast. Off season I know - but very close to everything (incl the railway station).


Went to a reading that night of "Love Letters" by Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker (remember LA Law). Small new theatre. Due to a misprint in the "Whats on" I only got to see the second half - but the local (Americans) were so dismayed that the time had been printed incorrectly - that they insisted I go free!


So a lot more walking. Tried to get on a group to go walking into Chianti and despite turning up at 8.15 twice - twice it was cancelled - so went back to being my own tour guide/leader. Needless to say - more frescoes. Can't decide if frescoes or mosaics are my favourite.

Haven't said much about food. Got much better at selecting more unlikely looking places. One night in Florence I walked in at 7.30 ish (too early) - but couldn't see that it was empty from the street - was seated right next to kitchen - bench type tables - and soon enough all the tables were full. Including every seat at the table that I was at. Good roast pork! Didn't feel compelled to try the Tuscan speciality of tripe, but did do wild boar & crispy cheek.


I like the Italian way of having a quick caffe at the counter along with a pastry. When breakfast wasn't included - cappuccinno and a very good pastry for E2 - can't complain about that! At the Uffizi, the difference between coffee standing at the bar and sitting at a table was E1.60 to 4.50.


Wednesday - train down to Orvieto - so did spend one night in Umbria. Not enought time to act out the Maggie Smith role in "My House in Umbria" so that will have to wait until next time.

Now the cathedral in Orvieto is something else - and I do think that if you are going to have some mosaics along with the black & white marble - then I agree with Orvieto - you may as well go OTT and have lots. Luckily I saw it on the afternoon I arrived with the sun shining on it as the next day was quite miserable - thunder/lightening/rain/cold.


Train back to Roma. Walked / tried to get interested in shopping but didn't do that well. Think I need companions / advisors for shopping. However when I checked in to fly to Singapore with now two full suitcases - and they didn't charge excess luggage? - I must have bought something!


Watched the rugby in a crowded Irish pub on my last night in Roma. Was slightly worried that there was going to be a riot on the penalty try - so kept my head low.

so - now in Singapore - haven't done the lying by the pool bit which was what I had planned for these two days - but have walked.... but no churches!

Being a numbers person - I like to keep track - so - 20 countries visited (16 for the first time); am going to count the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites and set up the checklist to start ticking off the remaining 800 or so; but no way I'll be able to count the duomos, cathedrals or the Madonna col Bambinos.


So - for anyone who is still bothering to read my ramblings - what have I learnt?

Contrary to earlier rumours, I can read maps and find my way around - the best piece of advice I received was from Ange who reminded me that the sun is in the south when you're in the Northern Hemisphere. Tho' it is amazing how the subconscious can override that even when you are concentrating really hard on which way to go...

The somewhat irritating habit I have of reading instructions comes in really useful when negotiating train timetables, and generally finding the way from A to B.

After the huge amount of art I have seen I think I now the difference between some styles!!

I now really understand why some professional firms still insist that their partners have a sabattical every five years or so. My poor old head that had been feeling as if it was in overload mode, now feels that it had been defragged, tidied, dusted and given a spring clean.

So... am feeling incredibly fortunate that I have been able to have this time out - some of the ragged edges have been smoothed over. I think experiencing so much beauty (art and architcture, but also landscapes,) is very soothing for ones soul!!

Not sure how I am going to cope with timesheets, collecting bad debts, tax problems etc again.

So - back to the drawing board and try and work out a way to do it again!

PS - please excuse all spelling errors - my poor wee EEPC is about to give up - and it doesn't have a spell check -

and thanks to those that have given news from home and other feedback...

see you soon!!