Sunday June 18th+
Florence
We got up around 0700- it was already getting warm. We went up the the bar where it was cooler to eat breakfast and check the times for the train departure and cost to get near Assisi. By the time we returned to our tent and started the preliminary packing it was hot. This turned into grouchiness. "Why do we always leave this late and end up biking during the hottest part of the day? I hate that." - S
"Because we don't plan" - J
"So let's make a plan" - S
"That's what I wanted to do earlier" - J
"Oh" - S
So we sat down with books and maps and decided to stay another day in Florence to plan. We also cleaned the tent, the fly,our bike bags the backpack. There were a couple towels left behind by campers that we put to use as our cleaning rags - that was handy.
We went back up to the bar area to eat our lunch and plan some more.
It was mid afternoon and that Italien sun was beating down. The backs of my knees are hot.
Full stomachs, heat a perfect combination for a nap. We opened both doors on our tent. Jon rigged up the fly and sleeping bags to make more shade and we laid down on our mats enjoying the occasional breeze. It's in the high 80's along with humdity Soon we were both snoozing. When we got up the back of our legs had sweated all over our mats - nice. Yep, it's hot. It's late afternoon by now and we wanted to pay tonight so we could leave super early tomorrow. I walked up to the reception and made our request. Apparently the register is only open from 0700-1300 and it was after 1500. Dang It, I walked back down to the bar where Jon was waiting and told him what happened. Of course he had ideas for ways around the policey so I told him to go up and ask. Sure enough Jon came back with the site paid for through tonight and we just had to pick up my driver's license on our way out tomorrow. Jon just has a way with people.
Right now I'm typing this journal at the bar outdoor seating area with shade and a nice breeze. They have SKY tv and the World Cup, Brazil vs. Australia. There are quite a few Aussies at the campground right now watching the game. Jon is sitting next to me but I don't think he's really here. Every so often he yell out something like, "Come on!" I think it startled the girl in front of us!
I'm surrounded by people young and old. Most are watching the game, many are writing in their journals too, or reading. People are drinking and smoking. I'm leaning back with every exhale of the gal next to me as her second hand smoke wafts by. It's been a quiet and productive day. We're both glad we stayed an extra day. Tomorrow we'll be putting in the kilometers on the way to Pisa.
PS: I forgot to mention that I found a pair of gloves that actually fit me! This is a big deal and has pretty much been a life long quest accomplished. I have freakishly long fingers and have never been able to find gloves with fingers long enough this left me with webbed fingers whenever I would put on gloves. Last year I finally just bought mittens and called it good. We were walking through the Ponte Vecchio which was hugely commercial and very disappointing but just off the bridge there was were stores with gloves on display. Before we left on the trip I had read about custom made gloves in Italy and joked with Jon that we should find a place that does that. As we walked down the street we stopped in one store front with a huge selection of gloves. I watched from the door as a salesperson was helping a couple get fitted for some gloves. Jon says he all but pushed me in there. Once inside The wall behind the counter was all cubbyholes with different gloves. The counter was simple with small velvet cushions on the counter. A salesperson acknowldeged us and I explained to her about my lifelong quest. She had me pick a style I liked (not easy with all the different styles) and started sizing. Sure enough she was having trouble too - this was somewhat reassuring but still frustrating. She pulled out her "last pair that might work." Thankfully, they fit and they were the pair I liked best when Jon and I were outside looking at the display. Finally, a pair of gloves that fit! I wanted to buy 10 pairs but kept it to 1 telling Jon that we would have to come back to Florence if I ever lost the gloves as the quality was good and will probably last forever. Yeah!!!!
