Padraig, if you do go into Florence and want to see something wonderful but not filled with your fellow travellers, go to the San Marco monastery to see the Fra Angelico frescos in the cells. It is in the square the buses converge on and is only open in the mornings. I failed to do this during my last visit and regret it as it's near the top of my list of favourites.

Padraig - i second St. Marco. we too missed it the first and 2nd times round, but this last time, i made a bee-line for it first thing one morning, and it was great to be able to wonder round without anyone else being there. it opens at about 8.45 am, and closes at about 1pm, BTW, which was why we kept missing it.

Actually, there are cypress trees here, so we can't be that far astray. I'm also looking at vineyards, so it could be a good place to have gone astray.

I like the idea of a pregnant madonna; she'll make a nice complement to the sexy madonna I saw in Venice.

Don't overtip

I was so overwhelmed with idea that I might have got things wrong that I lay down for a little while, and fell asleep. When I came to, I went outside and picked a peach. That made me feel better.

I now have a beer, and herself has an orange juice (too early in her day for drink without food). Tipped the barmaid 30c, a finely-gauged extravagance. She smiled.

Tomorrow we might do something, or go somewhere.

You may dare to eat a peach and enjoy life and Italy on your terms. Please keep it coming!

....but do not forget...Americans have no concept of irony!

I don't understand irony, either.

We didn't get a map today. The few places in the local town (Pontassieve) that sell maps were either sold out, or closed when we tried.

We did decide to make things easy, and use the train to get to Firenze and to Arezzo. But we learned that the trains to Arezzo will not be running tomorrow, and the museums in Firenze will be shut. Strikes - it's like being in France. We might be forced to slow down our programme.

Lunch today in a local restaurant. Menu in Italian only; waitress spoke no English. She asked the room for help, and a young woman at an adjacent table volunteered a translation service. She left, expressing a wish that we enjoyed our lunch, before the dessert stage - so we had no dessert. We could have sought gelati, but we had no idea which was the best gelateria in Pontassieve, so we passed.

Hmm, curious minds definitely want to know more about your lunch. Was it a true authentic Tuscan fare? Did you tip according to the smart Fodorite standard? Did the waiter try to cheat you on the bill?

We might be forced to slow down our programme.>>

lol Padraig - how will you notice?

sorry you missed your gelato. wouldn't it have been fun to try them all?

I'm not sure anyway that english translations on the menu would have helped. at the very local restaurant I ate at in Florence [or was that Firenze, I forget] one dish was described as "cut, with rocket". it turned out to be slices of rare steak on a bed of rocket, but really, I was expecting almost anything.

I'm sitting on my own on a terrace in the moonlight. There is a large oak tree with a very wide spread reaching over me. Movement in the tree, and some strange vocalisations. So I googled and found some squirrel sounds. That's what's up there overhead. He went quiet for a while after I played the sounds down here.

I should be doing stuff.

I should be doing stuff.>>

you are.

Sounds like Padraig has been to Firenze and Tuscany many times before. Plus no doubt a cheap flight from Dublin enables the carefree attitude about a winging it.

Enjoy!

You could declare yourself on strike too....that would show those pesky Italians! Oh....you are on strike.

Fear not, we leave Brisbane tomorrow to rush to the delights of Firenze...well if sitting on your bum for two days in an aluminium tube is rushing...hope the good Emirates hosties are not overates.
Hang in.

Padraig, your idea of a week's holiday sounds like bliss. Less is more...quality over quantity...or something like that.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

"and I have had several glasses of wine."

Then you are in the right place, wherever it is.

I forgot to tell you that there was a wedding here yesterday, in the small XIIc church right beside our accommodation. Norwegians. A party of about 45 of them. Dressed formally in the Tuscan heat (men's formality is particularly challenging on hot days - father of the bride in morning suit). The music for the ceremony sounded great; the Norwegian drinking songs afterwards less so.

We haven't yet decided what we will do today. The default option is nothing.

[There are a few Norwegians about, some looking quite hungover; others remarkably fresh.]

We have decided on Fiesole. The guidebook says it takes half a day to do it justice. With the museums closed, it looks like it might be worth a day to us.

good choice, Padraig. definitely 3/4 of a day, anyway.

hope you find the museum in the crypt of the monastery - fascinating.

The sound of the town is also sweet: "fee AYE so lay"

Perhaps you are there now? Hope the view is/was not misty.