Yesterday was primarily a travel day - full of the joys that travel days bring. A few weeks ago someone post a pic showing air travel in the 1950's vs. air travel now. There is no doubt that in the rush to profit and provide for cheap airfare we've lost some civility.
We flew Air France. The service was great. The food, OK as far as airline food. The four of us were seated in a row which was odd since we had not booked our flights together or even at the some time. We were surrounded by the usual cast of characters (although we were spared 'screaming baby and parent who ignores screaming baby'). We did meet a new travel 'friend' who we dubbed 'coot in desperate need of a shower' - I wished that I had had some body spray to spritz his way. He was seated near Joanne so she got the brunt of it.
I, who never sleeps on a flight, slept not badly.
We connected through Charles de Gaulle.
When we booked the flights there was a tight connection time between our flight and a later flight to Florence. We decided to go with the later flight to make sure we made it. Of course we made it through customs and were at the gate with 90 minutes to spare for the 10:10 flight. We were tempted to try switching the flight to have more time in Florence rather than the airport but were afraid our luggage would get left behind somewhere.
If you're going to be stuck in an airport CDG isn't a bad option. We ate croissants, drank coffee, shopped, and napped. The only thing that would have made it better would have been one of those hotel pods which I LOVED in Schipol in January.
When we finally arrived in Florence our luggage popped off the plane quickly. Our friend Nancy's bag did not. Joanne, Paul, and I were making happy jokes about lost bags but for some reason Nancy was not impressed. She got in line to report what is an epidemic in arrival in Italy this year it seems. Sure enough her bag needed more time in Paris - the 6 hours was just not enough for it. They are promising to have it delivered today.
The cab driver from the airport took us on a route I had never seen before. I could only imagine about what Joanne and Nancy must have thought is their cab had taken them through similar looking areas. :-)
It was wonderful to be welcomed back to Tourist House Ghiberti. This is our third visit here and we were given the best room yet. YEAH
Lorenzo took his time to make sure we knew how everything worked and pointing out the new things since we had last visited. He is a great guy and his attention to detail is like my own but all I could focus on at that point was a need to have a shower. Finally we wrapped up and Paul and I had an opportunity to wash off the travel grime and get settled.
It is unbelievable how something so simple as a shower can make you feel human again!
Feeling refreshed, I popped out to find a wine shop. I do have my priorities you know.
Paul, Nancy, and I sat on the terrace sipping an amazing Sangiovese. Don't think us evil - we saved some for Joanne!
After some time she joined us - fresh from a nap and a shower - and we laughed and giggled for a bit before heading out to explore the city. We wandered around the Duomo area, to the Palazzo Vecchio, through the Uffizi courtyard to the Arno, over to the Ponte Vecchio, back through the Piazza della Republica, and back to the Duomo. Nancy and Joanne had seen many places where they wanted to shop, Paul and I many places where we wanted to eat!
It was 7:30 so we declared it to be 'dinner time'. We went to a spot by the B and B where Paul and I enjoyed our first dinner in Florence all those years ago. It was just as we remembered, rustic, honest fare. The dining room full of locals, and a guy behind the cash desk who would burst into song at the drop of a hat.
We made a mess of ordering with antipasti for some, primi for all, and a secondi for me. By the time we had finished our pasta course Paul was nodding off at the table. I sent him back to the B and B for sleep and Joanne, Nancy and I stayed and chatted while my last course of pork scallopine in a wild mushroom sauce and truffles came. I was able to provide them with their first taste of patate - those amazing roast potatoes with herbs and a hint of garlic. I think they will be ordering roast potatoes with every meal while they are in Italy!
The bill was 73 euro for dinner for 4 and wine for me. Pretty impressive for dinner out in Florence!
The clock indicated that it was 10 when I went to bed - it was an amazing sleep and before you know it it was 6:30 and time to get up.
Right now I am sitting on the terrace with a coffee, and my lap top. The swallows are happily chirping as they dive through the air looking for mosquitoes, church bells ringing in the distance. It is wonderful to be back in Italy!
I'm so looking forward to your latest trip…I'm sure fun is going to be had by all. On last year's trip, we used Air France, flying out was terrible…coming back was OK. Oh to be able to fly like years past when airlines really cared about pleasing their customers. :)
Posted by: Karen (Back Road Journal) | May 30, 2014 at 07:21 PM
Imagine those happy days Karen? I guess people just were not able to pay for that level of service any longer. Now it is all about profit margins and the like. :-(
Posted by: JDeQ | June 03, 2014 at 01:48 AM