| Glenn's Bologna Journal #5 / Florence #1 4-10-02 Wednesday was our day to bail out of town and head to Florence. Of course we had to check on some unfinished business, our mail. We had my parents mail a letter to us a week ago to General Post in Bologna, and sent "priority". It had been a week since they mailed it and they were told 3-5 days for delivery. For sure it must be here!!! We spoke with the clerk at the post office who checked all of the General Post mail for us, even both names, to no success. She asked where the letter was being sent (U.S.A.), when was the letter sent (one week ago), and how was the letter sent (priority mail). She then replied with "that should take 10 days or so". I could not believe "priority" mail would take 10 days! Again, I remind myself that I am in Italy. From here we took off to the train station to catch the next train to Florence. We would come back for the mail sometime next week. Once we arrived in Florence, our first task, like every stop, was to find accomodations. The Lonely Planet guidebook provides a wealth of information, and is much more suited for the "budget" traveler than Frommer's. So we had some hostels (ostello's) that we would make our primary targets. First stop, the Hostel Archi Rossi. Tomoko had stayed here and recommended it, not only for the fact that it was very near the train station, but also had laundry facilities, and 20 minutes free internet a day. Erin and I had discussed storing our backpacks at the train station while we searched for accomodations but, since the Hostel Archi Rossi was so close, I convinced Erin to lug our backpacks with us. It was only just around the corner, anyway!!! We arrived at the Rossi to find out that they were booked for the night. We attempted to make reservations but were told to check back in the morning around 8:30 or so. If someone left, there would be space for us then. We then proceeded next door and to a few other hotels on the same street and found them to be 1 1/2 to 2 times the price of the Hostel. We talked about walking a few kilometers to another hostel but opted to take a room next to the hostel for convenience of being next door, as much as that we were tired and ready to drop our loads for the day. We stayed at the Albergo Mia Cara. There was a minimum 2 night stay, but otherwise the room sufficed nicely. Due to the fact that we were a little tired from our travels, we took a nap, went out for dinner around 6:00 p.m. and returned back home by 8:30 p.m.. (Home for us anymore is wherever we intend to lay our heads for the night, so I use the term loosely.) Erin went to bed while I took off to catch up with Andres and Sylvia, whom we had met in Bologna and who had arrived in Florence on Monday. They had e-mailed us, as we found on Wednesday upon our arrival, and let us know where they were staying. They were staying just around the corner, so I took the short walk to the Pensione they were staying at. Luckily they had just arrived home from a day trip and were getting ready for bed. We chatted for about an hour while they shared with me some very useful information that they had picked up in Florence. I shared my appreciation and returned to the hotel where Erin was sleeping soundly (until I woke her up!!). |
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| Views of the Tuscan countryside were gorgeous on the train ride from Bologna to Florence |