3779 Best Italy Moment Competition

This was a few years ago - so I cant remember all the facts...

I think there was 8 of us staying in a Italian only speaking hotel in Viareggio.

None of us spoke Italian. A friend however did speak Portugese - and helped us get by.

We asked for the reception - for advice on visiting Florence (I call it Firenze nowadays - reading off an Italian mappa)

Their overwhelming advice was to take the train - its cheap - its pleasant and it's easy.

3 of our party took their advice, they left the hotel.

The rest of us - ummed and arrred - then a mate said - nah - it's easy I have driven loadsa places - he said - I'll drive - plus its cheaper than us all getting a train ticket. He had short arms and deep pockets - and hence was the richest of our crowd.

So off we drove - along the autostrada - getting into Florence with our rental car map - off the motorway - the map and road signs seemed to make sense - but then -- we got to a junction with big yellow plastic 1m wide bollard things redirecting us another way - a temporary roundabout - ok - so the map's now useless - go with instinct - we did - and managed to cross the river - and find a car park near a small Cinema - just a couple of blocks away from the famous Ponte Vecchio - reasonable price €8 for the whole day - and use the facilities of the cinema to freshen up.

Ok - the Florence thing - see all the sights - up the Tower - as the queue for the duomo was toooooooo long - amazing views - Il Porcellino - we rubbed the boar and tossed a coin - which they say "he will see you again"...

Meet up with other friends - they say their heading off now - but 1 of them wants to hang around with us - ok so off we go and walk a little more before heading over the Ponte Vecchio back to our car -

Get back to car - and then realise - we have 6 in a 5 seater car! Oops - Fortunately it was an estate - so 1 friend hops in back...

Ok - LETS go HOME! - we are tired...

Driving over a bridge - towards home - a Police man wave's a baton thing - I think it was white circle filled in with blue - he is ushering us left - me mate just drives past him - thinking he is going to stop us for having too many people in the car...

And then we are back in Florence - we know the sense of direction we want to go - but the one way system wont allow it!

We drive around for a while - and all the road signs indicate something - NOT FOR CARS - but its a 1 way system - you have NO option but go that way - we are getting a bit hot under the collar now - and come upto some Police people - some standing around and on the road to the right - a wide road - a Policeman in a car - with a policeman chatting to him through the window - we turn down the road (the English way - ie. not the correct side!) and he doesnt batt an eyelid - just carries on chatting - another mate in the car jokes - he is probably talking boobies!

The street surface becomes cobbled - then we find ourselves in a Piazza following a horse and cart - Oh God - its the Duomo!
Rental car follows horse and cart meandering its way thru all the queues heading for the Duomo. ... find a street and get off - see a few other familiar sights that we had just done on foot - oh no - now we are in the Straw Market - isnt this where we stopped for refreshment - yup sure enough - through the crowds we drive - and there is the Boar! Wow - it worked - we did return - just didnt expect it to be soo soon!

Somehow - we end up at junction for the Ponte Vecchio - now going straight on - would DEFINITELY not be the right thing to do - but the traffic on the road parallel to the river is travelling fast towards the right - - we take this option - then things seem to flow nicely - and the road system takes us out of Florence! - P H E W !

A big sigh of relief from all!

Moral? Take the Train!