Happy Easter!! Sorry it's been so long. After how I ended my last post I wanted to leave you on a literal and figurative cliff hanger. Also I was just too lazy to write. It's my party and I won't write if I want to.
Day 19: Dachau to Florence
Friday we drive the 8 hour drive to Florence. We got to pass through the Swiss alps and enjoy the incredible view. Thank goodness after we left Germany every road had a speed limit. Both Alley and I were very adamant about Alexander's eyes remaining on the road.... somehow he'd still manage to point out landmarks before we saw them. My favorite thing to say was "wow that is such a beautiful sight! But Alexander don't look, you'd hate it"
We stopped in Innsbruck, Austria for a quick lunch. Our next stop was in Riva Del Garda. It's a lake town in the Italian alps. They were having an international children's sailing competition. We watched as hundreds of kids sailed in the cold windy weather and we soaked in the beautiful view.
Our next stop was the quaint lake town of Malcesine, Italy. This town had all of our hearts. We had a cheese pizza and looked out at the lake, admired the castle, and walked around the little shops.
We then followed the lake down to the bottom... if you ask Alley and I we drove pretty quickly for the amount of tight turns and pedestrians. I think Alexander wanted to go faster.
As we approached Florence it was already 11pm. Thank goodness the crowds were not nearly as bad as they get during the day, but the driving was still terrible. Italians are reckless drivers by nature it seems. I think it was good though for all of us to collectively judge other peoples driving rather than Alley and I just correcting Alexander's. As Alexander says "these two are focused more on my driving than I am"
We got to the Airbnb, and went straight to bed after a long day.
Day 20: Florence and Saturnia
Yesterday we spent the day driving to a hot springs in the country side of Italy. We left around 9:30 and drove the 3 hours. The drive was absolutely beautiful. The hills were full of rich green colors, cute houses, and grapes everywhere. I got a little motion sick as the drive got very windy as we went through small mountains. In my humble opinion I think they should do some road work... I've been on smoother roller coasters. The hot springs were amazing and I enjoyed them a lot. They are one of my favorite things to find when I'm traveling.
We sat in the warm waters and relaxed in the sun and cool breezes for a couple hours. The view was incredible and we enjoyed a fair amount of people watching as well. Alleys favorite part (not) was the tiny red worms that swam around with us the whole time, they especially liked Alexander.
We ate a snack at the small restaurant at the springs then headed back. The way back we took a different route that was slightly better.... until we got to Florence. I have never been on a crazier road... I sort of thought I would die. There was walls on either side of a very narrow road where the speed limit is 50km/h. It felt like a dream or maybe a game of GTA?? Horrible. THEN google maps decides to take us through one of the busiest streets in the city. We're not really sure id cars were even allowed there... we split hundreds and hundred of people as we drove past restaurants and shops in pedestrian areas. I would rather be anywhere else than back in that car on that street. We were able to have a good laugh after, but during was horrible.
We were dirty and hungry but when we got back there was a note in our shower saying "no showering until tomorrow at 8:30am, fresh silicon" we were not pleased as we were given no heads up on this and we were covered in sand, sulfer, and whatever else was in the hot springs. I messaged the Airbnb host if there was an alternative for showering.... no response. So we changed and went to dinner all gross. We got ramen, Alleys favorite. It was quite good!
Alley and Alexander left to move the car and I went on my way to the Cathedral for Easter Vigil. There was a large group of men in feathered hats holding flags and playing the drums. It was an incredible site to see the procession! They lit a large fire and tourists like me gathered around and watched in awe. The whole service was beautiful.
At the procession before mass I made a friend from Spain, Jaume. After we went and got a cocktail and made small conversation in broken English and my tiny amount of Spanish! We decided to meet again for breakfast and so Jaime joined our group of 3 for the day!
Day 20: Florence
We watched the cart explode at the cathedral, definitely look this up on YouTube, it's insane. Oxen bring a huge cart infront if the cathedral and its explodes with fireworks. We watched from far away but it was still a spectacle. You can see a video here.https://youtu.be/ksyIHCS7Pmw
We all walked around, Alexander and Alley got ice cream, then we went to Ponte Vecchino and the Roman door before lunch. We had lunch reservations at 1:30 at Osteria Del Encote. We had a wonderful meal, I had pasta. Our new friend from Spain ordered Pigeon which made me happy because that means there's one less pigeon flying around, I hate them so much.
The waiter brought us all into the cellar and helped us choose a wine. We ended up with a merlot from Pisa. It was "not bad" in Alleys words. It was wonderful. They also brought us a free appetizer of Chicken Liver and honey pate with toast. We all tried it, I enjoyed it along with Alexander and Jaume. Alley liked the bread. If you know Alley, this makes sense.
After lunch we said goodbye to Jaume and went to the Giardino de Boboli. A large and beautiful garden. We wandered around and admired many trees, statues, fountains, and my favorite, citrus fruit trees. I wanted one so bad but there were many signs saying not to pick fruit, plus all of the oranges were way out of reach.
We spent about an hour walking around, got an incredible view of the city and ended at the Grottoes. Here Alexander decided to move a barricade, walk past a "do not pick fruit" sign and climb up on a wall to pick an orange... Alley and I were scolding him and trying to also simultaneously pretend not to know him. The other few people were looking at him like he was absolutely insane. After he secured the orange he walked straight back, replaced the barricade and put the orange in my hand. So now I'm holding the contraband. I put the orange in my pocket and feel like everyone in the city knows. The orange ways 100 million pounds in my pocket and I'm so hyper aware od it's presents. I don't break rules like this and am so worried to be holding the product od Alexander's rule breaking.
Once we were out of the garden I was soooo relieved and actually giddy that I got a fresh picked orange. What a horrible and beautiful Easter gift. The Orange smells so much of it's oils and we plan on sharing it tomorrow. See below the perfect, stolen, million pound orange.
With orange in tow, we headed back to our Airbnb to switch laundry. On the way Alley bought some wine and Alexander was swindled into buying bracelets and a belt from a street seller. Once back at the Airbnb we hung our laundry on the line and all got in the big bed. (I'm currently sleeping on the most uncomfortable cot in the world at the base of Alley and Alexander's big bed)
After some rest we decided that we were going to have our traditional Italian Easter dinner at a 1950s American Diner.
This experience was so funny. It could be that I'm over tired, but I couldn't stop giggling at every little detail.
We all ordered burgers that were huge! But the menu was full of funny items with terribly translated descriptions of "American classics" like the famous midwestern meal of "corn on the cob with French fries." There was checkered tiles, old license plates, the waitresses wore checkered dresses and zoomed around on roller skates while the waiters wore little hats and suspenders. It was all so funny to me. And to be there on Easter. Alexander ordered the Monster Burger and it was massive.
Now we are all snuggled in the big bed again while I write and we reminisce on the last 3 days. I need to move back to my cot soon..... I'm stalling.
Notables:
Incase you were wondering, our Airbnb host did respond, but not til this morning AFTER our shower was already in use again. I also think that maybe she doesn't know what Easter is???😂😂
I appreciate everyone who is following with my updates and even sharing them! 70 people have now seen my posts and that is crazy to me! Mom, I honestly thought you would be the only one reading these.
Happy Easter! I plan on spending the next 8 days bathing in pasta and gelato to celebrate the octave!
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