Day 53 Sienna and Florence

Sunday January 27th.

We got up this morning, had a quick breakfast packed up, checked out, put the luggage on the left baggage area and then the long walk to our car.

Drove back to the hotel and packed up and then headed for Firenze. Traffic was light and we only got lost a few times. I highly recommend arriving by car on Sundays. The traffic is much lighter, the traffic restrictions are fewer and parking is free. We came in through the Ichelangel overlook where which overlooks the Arno and you can see most of the city.

We found the information area – they could not recommend hotels but we walked to the Hotel Dante and they had free parking and a mini-apartment with kitchenette for 100 euro. We decided to take it and then walked around exploring for a while – we checked on one other hotel but it was closed for the season. The hotel is just off the Piazza S. Croce. There was a street fair/market in the Piazza where they were selling chocolate. The girls indulged.

We got lunch (a place called Mayo – also with free interent and a much yougnner crowd) – during our explorations we saw many younger people speaking English. We picked up the car and drove back to the hotel. We unloaded the car and I dorve to a parking space – really a closet. When I got back to the hotel I found out they had goven away the original room and offered us 2 rooms for the same proce. After looking at them we decided we could fit into one and asked if we could have 1 for 80. He said he would talk to the owner and he could guarantee 85. Either way we were happy – there is a seprate kitchenette and a large bedroom with a single and a queen.

Pretty comfy – oh and somebody has an open router so we have free interent -- whooohooo!

We did some school work and I did some work. I also finished the Whiteout novel - that was a quick read.

Pam and Allysha went out for dinner and exploring while Aria and I stayed in. We got emsils from Mick with advice on Firenze and one from our cousin Steve with info on Croatia – thanks guys.

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