We got up early and went back to get one last look at the treasures.  The man had brought more things for Janet and I started looking for the little ribbon tape booth.  Couldn’t find them anywhere.  Figured someone thought they were as cool as we did and bought them all.  As we were leaving, Janet spotted them in a booth and we bargained with the woman and got the whole bag – at a great bargain.  Cheri and I will split them.  We caught the train to Florence and took a cab to our B&B.  I have stayed there several times and it is in a fun neighborhood with cute shops and good restaurants and isn’t too touristy.  It is across the river from the Duomo via the Ponte Vecchio.  History lesson here:  in ancient times, the shops on the bridge were butcher shops.  The Medicis who lived nearby couldn’t stand the smell, so closed the butcher shops and put goldsmiths in them and they remain to this day.  Many of the shops have modern jewelry and a few have only vintage.  A statue to Cellini, the great goldsmith, stands in the middle of the bridge. There is a metal fence around his statue with a sign saying it is illegal to put locks on the fence.  You can barely read the sign for all the locks!  Couples put their initials on the locks, attach them to the fence and throw the key into the river…symbolizing their “forever love”.   Many times, these love locks on bridges around the world have had to be removed because the weight of the thousands of locks has compromised the bridges!  During WWII, the Nazis blew up all the bridges in Florence….except for the Ponte Vecchio because a Nazi general knew of its history and thought it should be saved.  Of course, it is an iconic symbol of Florence as is the Duomo.  

We found a wonderful restaurant for lunch and our waiter, Marco was wonderful.  After lunch we walked around and found a darling dress shop.  Getting back to the B&B to rest up, we noticed a clothes shop across the street that was having a sale, the lights were on and the sales lady was on the phone.  Didn’t realize until later that she really wasn’t open…she was there setting up everything for the BIG SALE starting the next day!  But we shopped and she was happy to sell.  I was too hot to try on clothes, so put back about 10 pieces to try at 10am Monday when they opened.  You know me, I was there before she got there to open on Monday Morning.  By 10:15  the shop was packed…so glad I had set back the pieces I wanted to try on.   We all bought more stuff there.  Can’t wait to be back in September to see their fall and winter line.  Maybe I’ll get lucky with another sale.  

Later that evening, we returned to Trattoria ANGIOLINO for dinner…where we had lunch.  We were going to have the famous Florentine steak that looked so good at another table at lunchtime.  We wanted to start with chicken liver pate bruschetta, but Marco said it would be too much food with the steak.  He was right.  We shared two steaks among the 4 of us.  They came with roasted potatoes with rosemary and we ordered spinach.  The meal was outstanding!  The meat was melt in your mouth tender and the spinach was so tender it was like a soufflé.  The Florentine steak is a giant t-bone and it is charred on the outside and very rare on the inside.  And this restaurant did the best job of any I’ve had.  

Back to the B&B for a good nights sleep in the air conditioning.  Tomorrow, the girls are going on a Dante’s Inferno (from Dan Brown’s book) Tour, and I’m running errands.  I will do the tour when it is cooler.  

This morning, we were up,early to have coffee and be off to the Antiques Fair.  The vendors were just setting up when we arrived at the first street and we started shopping.  Andy and Cheri lost interest early and decided to scope out the entire fair as Janet and I inspected everything.  The first thing I bought was an antique lace baby bonnet…and it was already marked down 50%!  I do love a bargain.  Janet was finding all sorts of treasures and having a wonderful time.  Then I found some type of ribbons.  They are about 1/2 inch wide with two initials sewn  in red every inch or so.  Some have numbers done the same way.  They are almost like the tape you would see in clothes to go to camp…but they are old and there are hundreds of different initials.  I found one that was L.R.  I bought that and one with numbers.  Janet and I went to every booth and sometimes she needed me to translate, but often not…money talks!  Everyone was so nice…pleased to,be,able to show their wares and give explanations.  I met a man who sold etchings and he was a delight.  Spoke beautiful English and said he became proficient reading books in English…and reads at least one a week.  I told him I read that much as well…also in English!  We had fun discussing our favorite authors.  I will have a list of good books for him the next time I see him.  Then we met the girls for lunch at a restaurant that had been recommended to us by the Tourist Information lady.  It was very good.  I had a pasta with wild boar sauce.  I really like that sauce and also rabbit.  After lunch, Andy and Cheri went to the Archeological Museum and Janet and I continued our quest for treasures.  I found a vintage cup towel with the initials ER…so someone I know will get that.  Also got a pair of shorts and the fabric will make a wonderful trim on a blouse…you didn’t really think you would see me in shorts, did you??  I found a wonderful original drawing of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf…and I collect LRRH stuff.  Now most of these booths are in the shade and the heat wasn’t too bad in the hours before lunch…but after lunch the temperatures were close to 100 degrees and it was pretty miserable.  I stopped at one of the every flowing fountains and stuck my whole head under the spout.  There were two men watching and one asked if I would like to have a shower?  I said yes!  He got up, got a pitcher and a colander, filled the pitcher with that wonderful cold water, held the colander over my head and poured the water…TA Da!  A shower!  I will forever wish we had gotten a picture of that!  We all had a good laugh and I got cool for a few minutes.  Janet and I finally got thru every booth or every street, so,we headed for the hotel.  Rested a bit and went next door to the place where we had pizza and had dinner.  We decided to get back to row one early the next day, because one of the vendors said he would bring more of the things Janet was buying.  Cheri and I decided we really liked the tapes with the red initials and wanted to get more.  We decided we could use them for trim with sewing, tying gifts or reselling on EBay!  It was a successful day for all.  I was thrilled to hear that Janet thought this fair was as good as the Paris Flea Market and wants to come again.  I’m all for that!

Today in Arezzo, we went next door for coffee, then went to Old Town.  We saw the Cathedral and another church.  Then we went to a museum of religious art.  Had lunch in town at a place recommended by Trip Advisor.  I had a very good pasta with rabbit sauce.  After lunch, we went back to the hotel to rest and recuperate from the heat.  It is about 100 degrees here daily and nothing in town is air conditioned. After awhile, we went to dinner at a cute little deli down the street.  Andy noticed a dog in a car across the street from the deli.  So, we started looking for the owner.  And I’m trying to negotiate all the search in Italian.  We thought we had found the owner…a grizzly,old guy who said it was his dog that he loved like a child.  He’s drunk, but I’m telling him needs to get his dog out.  We find a few other people and we are all looking for the owner and Andy rolls down the back windows to give the dog more air.  One shop owner offers to call the police.  The drunk guy doesn’t move.  Then, all of a sudden, after we went back to eat, the owner of the car comes out of another shop and drives off.  The old drunk was just trying to fool us.  Went back to hotel and tried to sleep in the heat.  The hotel would be great any other time of the year…just not when A/C is needed.   Tomorrow, the Antique fair starts.  I am really hoping it will be good for,Janet’s sake and she will find the kinds of things she needs for her jewelry making.  We will see tomorrow.

This morning, we got up early and went to see St. Peter’s before the line got too long.  Spent about an hour wandering around this amazing church before heading to Termini to take a train to Arezzo.  When the train track was posted, we had to walk to the farthest track in the terminal.  And it was already hot!  Finally got there, got aboard, got our little cabin and the air conditioner didn’t work.  It was pretty miserable.  We got to Arezzo and took a cab to our hotel…and it isnt air conditioned either!  At least our window in the room has a screen.  We go,out walking and find a bank that will not give me change.  We do get an ATM and it works, so we do have money.  Then we walk to town and look around a bit, going to the Duomo and another church.  We go back to the hotel and then go to dinner at a cute new restaurant called Mama Mia.  They have a Pizza Night special…all the pizza we can eat and a drink.  First, our cute waitress Tamera, brings champagne.  Then the pizzas arrive, and they are half and half.  This gives each of us a good slice of one kind of pizza, and another slice of a second kind.  Then another pizza arrives…another half and half.  Each better than the last.  Really good thin crust pizzas.  We end up with 4 pizzas and all are delicious.  Then we get dessert.  A chocolate ice cream to cleanse the palate.  The food and service were beyond excellent and we hope this cute place will be a success.  You can just feel the joy and pride Tamara feels about her new endeavor.  We go back to the hotel  with a full tummy.  Slept fairly ok with no A/C.  It wasn’t hot when I made the reservation…but won’t make that mistake again!

cant believe we left New York 6 months ago to start our adventure.

Today, my friend, Janet arrived with her friend, Cheri.  They rested a bit and we left for a Hop On-Hop Off bus tour for them to get the lay of the land.  At the end of the tour, we walked to the Pantheon with Janet taking pictures about every five feet. Their first trip to Italy and they are loving it.  We had a gelato…me a pink grapefruit, Janet a cream custard and Cheri a pistachio.  Then we went to my favorite clothes store where Janet bought a fabulous dress, a shirt and scarf.  I got a sweater.  then Cheri bought a cute pair of sandals.  We caught the bus back to the house and went for dinner.  It is Janet’s birthday and we split two desserts.  I think she had a good birthday!  Tomorrow, we leave for Arezzo.  Seeing St. Peter’s early before the train.