Pbenjay's Blog

Getting the luggage off the train seemed a bit easier, probably because the same man who helped us get it on didn’t even bother to ask if we needed help, he just picked it up and took it to the platform.  Another man who had hoisted the carry-on suitcase onto the upper rack, retrieved it and handed it to us. I didn’t think we were old and feeble and I just had my hair dyed so I’m crediting the cane for this attention.

I was sure our hotel was close to the train station but there was no way I was going to be able to walk very far dragging suitcases and the boot.  By now it is about 3pm  and we have been up since 7:30 am the day before (yawn). The hotel is literally around the corner and down the street but of course it is a one way street like every other street in Florence ( we were to soon find out).

The trip to Florence was actually an add on, the main idea was to experience living in Italy in a small village like a native, not a tourist on vacation.  I wanted Peter to see Florence even though I knew we were not staying in the beautiful Florence, we know from postcards and the movies.  To work three nights in Firenze into my travel budget, I picked a low budget hotel ( well really, we’re just going to sleep there).  Guess which one we’re staying at?  To say that the room was small would be an understatement, to say that the neighborhood was replete with tourist hotels and every day, all day and night people pulling suitcases walked the streets.  It was an amazing sight.  We did notice that an unusually large number of the tourists were Asian and we found a few Chinese restaurants, even one with an Italian name and a Chinese name.   Our host Alessandro was quite a combination of a scholar and perhaps a not terribly conscientious businessman.  He spoke 5 languages and was quite engaging. He was considerate and solicitous of our wants albeit he didn’t always follow through.  Pros: convenient location to train station (although by taxi you would never know it), many little cafes and restaurants that cater to tourists (read eggs and toast and American coffee), A/C , TV. Cons: tiny shower, tiny bottle of soap/shampoo combo, no shelf in bathroom or toilet roll holder or mirror. No hooks or closet in room. Mosquitoes 😧. However it may sound, this is how it went down… Peter wanted to look around the neighborhood and I wanted to put my foot up on the bed with that blasted boot off.  I started to work on my iPad doing an Italian lesson and after 3 mistakes in a row, I closed it, put my head down and fell asleep.  Peter came back and tried to talk to me, I just waved him away.  Eventually up and refreshed we headed out to the famous (by word of mouth) Trattoria Sostanza.  My friend, Bobbie Gitter encouraged me to go to Florence and to definitely eat at this restaurant.   Famous for its Bistecca Florentine and Pollo di burro, I swear every single person in the restaurant was eating the same thing! Platter after platter came out of the kitchen with everyone  ordering the Tortino Carciofi  as an appetizer followed by the steak and chicken.  

The food was delicious, the service attentive, they only have two seatings a night and you must have a reservation.  And after that fabulous meal and the thousands of air and train miles and no sleep except for a nap, we headed back to the Hotel Etrusca and promptly fell asleep 💤

To be continued…