Ciao!
It's a sunny, yet rather fresh, Monday back in Perugia after our Tuscan adventure. We set off on Friday morning 
via Perugia's MiniMetro for the station to catch our regional train to Florence. The MiniMetro is easily the most convenient way to get from the centro storico to the bottom of the hill ie to the station - when it hasn't 'lost its memory', that is. More on that later. Anyway, for some members of the group, this was their first experience riding the little monorail, which starts off a bit like being on a roller coaster before you cruise over roads, passing apartment buildings and the like. It's very cute.
via Perugia's MiniMetro for the station to catch our regional train to Florence. The MiniMetro is easily the most convenient way to get from the centro storico to the bottom of the hill ie to the station - when it hasn't 'lost its memory', that is. More on that later. Anyway, for some members of the group, this was their first experience riding the little monorail, which starts off a bit like being on a roller coaster before you cruise over roads, passing apartment buildings and the like. It's very cute.Anyway, we made it to the station with enough time to savour a coffee at the bar before we installed ourselves and our supposedly light luggage for the two hour train ride. Note to the boys - you really don't need to bring 3 different outfits in your hand luggage, thus leaving no room for your shampoo, or alternatively, any purchases that you would subsequently make! Our train ride past
Lake Trasimeno (Italy's largest lake) was beautiful and relaxing, and almost before we knew it, we were pulling into Florence's main station. A short walk around the corner had us checking in at the amazing Hotel Aprile before demands for lunch drove us in search of food. A visit to a little osteria with an extremely helpful waiter luckily replenished our energy because by now the thoughts of Florence's shopping delights were calling, or maybe yelling. Our first stop was the Mercato Nuovo, otherwise known as the market with the bronze Porcellino. This was followed by a longer visit to the bigger San Lorenzo markets, where the first forays into bartering started. An hour later, and laden with shopping, we headed back to the Aprile to drop off our bags. Another coffee stop along with a ride on the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica preceded a spot of sightseeing this time - the Ponte Vecchio with its shops of impressiv
e bling and Piazza della Signoria with its impressive statues. We 
took some time to observe the locals out for their passeggiate in the dusk, while Dee-Arna caught up with an old school friend, Cheylie, and some of the girls were chatted up by some brave local teenagers. One claimed to have his heart broken after Jennifer declined his own invitation to come to Australia and marry her. Mopping up the tears, it was clearly time to leave the piazza. Dinner at the restaurant just down from the hotel finished off the day, before a small group of us accompanied Cheylie back to her hostel, via another stroll past Piazza della Signoria so that the boys could enjoy the views once more.
Lake Trasimeno (Italy's largest lake) was beautiful and relaxing, and almost before we knew it, we were pulling into Florence's main station. A short walk around the corner had us checking in at the amazing Hotel Aprile before demands for lunch drove us in search of food. A visit to a little osteria with an extremely helpful waiter luckily replenished our energy because by now the thoughts of Florence's shopping delights were calling, or maybe yelling. Our first stop was the Mercato Nuovo, otherwise known as the market with the bronze Porcellino. This was followed by a longer visit to the bigger San Lorenzo markets, where the first forays into bartering started. An hour later, and laden with shopping, we headed back to the Aprile to drop off our bags. Another coffee stop along with a ride on the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica preceded a spot of sightseeing this time - the Ponte Vecchio with its shops of impressiv
e bling and Piazza della Signoria with its impressive statues. We 
took some time to observe the locals out for their passeggiate in the dusk, while Dee-Arna caught up with an old school friend, Cheylie, and some of the girls were chatted up by some brave local teenagers. One claimed to have his heart broken after Jennifer declined his own invitation to come to Australia and marry her. Mopping up the tears, it was clearly time to leave the piazza. Dinner at the restaurant just down from the hotel finished off the day, before a small group of us accompanied Cheylie back to her hostel, via another stroll past Piazza della Signoria so that the boys could enjoy the views once more. Saturday dawned beautiful and sunny. Sharon nervously awaited the arrival of her long lost half-sister from the UK, along with her brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Once they met though, it was all smiles and Sharon was whisked off to spend the day with them. The rest of us jumped on a train to Pisa (according to Jennifer, it's 'just like pizza with an s') where, after some confusion regarding exactly w
hich bus we needed and being adopted by a local nonna who pointed out the sights as we travelled, we made it to the Piazza dei Miracoli for the obligatory photos holding up the Tower. The students declined the opportunity to spend 15 euro to climb to the top, pottering instead in the many souvenir shops along the side of the campo. Then it was just a matter of catching the bus back to the station for a bit of lunch before our return to Florence. Because of the perfect weather, Michelle accompanied Gloria, Anastasia, Dee-Arna, Nick and Luke up the 414 steps to enjoy the view over the city from the Belltower, while Rachel had her caricature drawn. After the descent and subsequent recovery, as well as a visit inside the Cathedral, some bartering over 'real fake' sunglasses took place before we decided to take advantage of the perfect 
light by climbing to the top of Piazzale Michangelo. This gave us a breathtaking view over the city, and the chance for tired muscles to rest from all the walking before we headed back to the hotel and dinner at the same restaurant. 
While some people declined the chance to have a post-dinner passeggiata, others set off to savour the sights. This included observing the antics of the street sellers bundling up their wares in large white sheets and hiding behind lamp posts each time the police did a circuit. As this happened every few minutes, making purchases of bags or more sunglasses became a little fraught at times. However, it was highly amusing when they stalked us around corners after deals were interrupted in this way. One more look at the Ponte Vecchio and the lights reflected in the river and it was definitely time to return to the hotel for a well-earned snooze.
hich bus we needed and being adopted by a local nonna who pointed out the sights as we travelled, we made it to the Piazza dei Miracoli for the obligatory photos holding up the Tower. The students declined the opportunity to spend 15 euro to climb to the top, pottering instead in the many souvenir shops along the side of the campo. Then it was just a matter of catching the bus back to the station for a bit of lunch before our return to Florence. Because of the perfect weather, Michelle accompanied Gloria, Anastasia, Dee-Arna, Nick and Luke up the 414 steps to enjoy the view over the city from the Belltower, while Rachel had her caricature drawn. After the descent and subsequent recovery, as well as a visit inside the Cathedral, some bartering over 'real fake' sunglasses took place before we decided to take advantage of the perfect 
light by climbing to the top of Piazzale Michangelo. This gave us a breathtaking view over the city, and the chance for tired muscles to rest from all the walking before we headed back to the hotel and dinner at the same restaurant. While some people declined the chance to have a post-dinner passeggiata, others set off to savour the sights. This included observing the antics of the street sellers bundling up their wares in large white sheets and hiding behind lamp posts each time the police did a circuit. As this happened every few minutes, making purchases of bags or more sunglasses became a little fraught at times. However, it was highly amusing when they stalked us around corners after deals were interrupted in this way. One more look at the Ponte Vecchio and the lights reflected in the river and it was definitely time to return to the hotel for a well-earned snooze.Unfortunately, Sunday brought rain and cold winds - a huge contrast to the preceding days when everyone had been out basking in the unexpectedly balmy weather. Sharon once again met up with her family so the rest of us took the opportunity for one last shopping splurge, an extended lunch at one of the pizzerie near the big markets (where Gloria astonished us all with the ability to devour her pizza in 
record time, although to be fair she was 'starving'!), and a visit to Santa Croce 
with its tombs and memorials to famous Tuscans such as Michelangelo, Gallileo and Leonardo. Michelle was especially thrilled to note the many statues of Dante to be found around Florence, and will undoubtedly be rushing off to buy a new copy of La Divina Commedia as I write this. By now it was time to return to the hotel to pick up our bags and collect Sharon for our train ride back to Perugia. The journey passed quietly as many people snoozed, although Sharon's impromptu beauty salon and make-over of Rebecca brought some entertainment. A ride back on the MiniMetro was scuppered by the strange sign indicating that the little train had lost its memory and was therefore not allowing anyone to actually ride the empty carriages, so we braved the eratic 
bus system instead. Finally arriving in Piazza Italia, the only things that remained for our weekend to be complete was a quick dinner and a relatively early night in order to prepare for another week of full on lessons. Ah, but it was fun!!!
record time, although to be fair she was 'starving'!), and a visit to Santa Croce 
with its tombs and memorials to famous Tuscans such as Michelangelo, Gallileo and Leonardo. Michelle was especially thrilled to note the many statues of Dante to be found around Florence, and will undoubtedly be rushing off to buy a new copy of La Divina Commedia as I write this. By now it was time to return to the hotel to pick up our bags and collect Sharon for our train ride back to Perugia. The journey passed quietly as many people snoozed, although Sharon's impromptu beauty salon and make-over of Rebecca brought some entertainment. A ride back on the MiniMetro was scuppered by the strange sign indicating that the little train had lost its memory and was therefore not allowing anyone to actually ride the empty carriages, so we braved the eratic 
bus system instead. Finally arriving in Piazza Italia, the only things that remained for our weekend to be complete was a quick dinner and a relatively early night in order to prepare for another week of full on lessons. Ah, but it was fun!!!
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