Florence

We had a very comfortable train ride to Florence in a very swift train going about 150km per hour and that wasn't the fast train. Found our hotel without any bother , an easy walk from the train station and was blown away when we got to our room cos it is enormous and overlooks the piazza republiqu . Absolutely fantastic. There are restaurants all around the square, merry go round and a regular trio of jazz musicians. Then at night it looks so,pretty with all the lights and the sellers trying to sell there umbrellas, bags and florescent toys that you throw in the air and they sparkle. We have brekkie here of sliced meats, cheese, cereal, yoghurt, croissants, sweet cake that they dip,into coffee, toast, jam Nutella......we don't eat it all......just letting you know what they supply...we did the red bus hop on off yesterday and that was great. Quite cool on the open deck of the bus but we saw some great sights. It has been slight drizzly rain off and on but today is like summer and we haven't needed our coats....quite warm. Walked and walked today. Found a gorgeous shop,that only sold brown leather shoes. I bought a classic brown brogue. Will send snap. The shops are amazing. From the outside it looks like it is very small but they often go back a really long way. The product are all first class. Dress shops divine and the spring fashions are appearing so all looking really pretty.
Mum what a rip off paying $5 for coffee at Cottesloe , mind you we paid a real tourist price today nearly $7.......
We are off to Milan tomorrow by train.....love this train travel, so easy. Will return to Paciano on Tuesday.
Will sent more pics from my phone next week from Paciano.
So many tourists here, I can't imagine what it is like on the proper tourism time. Horrible.... The local shops keepers tell us that local Italians aren't shopping and they are very grateful for the tourist esp the Japanese, they buy up big.
Reece dozing next to me. Can here the music in the Piazza.
Love hearing from you.
Lots of love
Penelop