Firenze, Italia - 25-30 July 2024

It’s off to Firenze, Italia (via Doha and Milano) I go! A couple of months ago I was strongly encouraged to join a trip to Italia by a couple of friends. The dates didn’t line up with my other trips but I couldn’t pass up a quick visit and Jenn was able to change her flights to go earlier. So, I’m leaving, on a jet plane, on Thursday 25 July 2024 and returning back to HK late on Wednesday, 31 July 2024. I will absolutely be making good use of my 4 nights in Firenze! Espresso, Aperol and all the food I can handle.

As the Airport Express doors open a couple of people get off, a lady then decides she must get on and in the process completely blocks someone trying to get off. Ooh my. Aaah you have to love this place!

It must be the day of rude people! I’m standing in line waiting to check-in and notice a man appear and waltz up to the counter like he owns the place (and I’m not standing in line). Ummmm, no thank you. Not today! I’m basically told to go away “I’m waiting for an upgrade”. N O buddy, there is a line and get in it. WTF is wrong with people I ask??!

I somehow manage to get in the security line with the new machines. Now most people would probably think that was a good thing. But no. It takes forever and a day! Must remember that for when I fly to Sydney, not to come down this lane!

On arrival at the lounge the lady recognizes me…whoops! She used to work at Fine Print (my local coffee shop).

I have a good 1.5 hours relaxing the lounge before heading to board.

We pull back from the gate a couple of minutes late. Italia here I come!!

 

The 7.5 hour flight passes quickly.  Thankfully I manage to get some sleep (but more is definitely needed!) before the captain wakes me with the announcement that we have 40 minutes to landing. It’s 38 degrees in Doha (at 10pm at night)….thank goodness I’m not staying!!

My 4 hours in Doha manages to pass by quickly. Being in the lounge helped. It took some time locate the lounge in the first place.

Once on the plane I get prepared for sleep.  The captain’s announcement that we are 40 minutes from landing wakes me. It’s great to see blue sky when I open the shutter.

We land into Milano 5 minutes early at 7.05am on Friday 26 July 2024. It’s a cool 23 degrees.

My plane is definitely not the only plane landing at this time! The immigration line is super loooong. At least there is free WiFi.

Once I get to the front of the line it’s nice and easy self-service. Before the gates open to let me into Milano I’m informed I need to get my passport stamped. No problem.

I have a good 40 minutes before Jenn arrives.

We take the train to Milano Porta Garibaldi Passante where we have 20 minutes until our train to Firenze. Enough time to get a coffee.

The train to Firenze passes by quickly. On arrival at Firenze station (just after 12 noon on Friday 26 July) there are people everywhere! Thankfully it’s a short 5-minute walk to the hotel.

Jenn’s room is ready, mine is not. I leave my bags in her room before we venture out. First stop is more coffee.

It’s beyond hot! But thankfully not humid. Where possible we walk in the shade. It’s nice just to wander and decide where to go at each intersection.

We stumble across a restaurant for lunch that appears to have only locals. While it’s not air conditioned there are ceiling fans and it’s cooler than being outside in the hot sun.

We continue our wandering the streets before finding a bar to sit and have an Aperol spritz. Within seconds of being given the menu I notice an Aperol spritz is EUR 23. WTF! That is a very big N O!!! Gone are the days of spending EUR 2, but this is insane. 

Back to wandering the streets. I’m surprised how empty the streets are.

Finally a bar / cafe that is open and has Aperol spritz, at EUR 8. Much more better good.

 

We continue wandering, this time towards the Duomo. 

 

It’s time to get away from all the people! I’m so grateful we haven’t had crowds like this all day.

 

Trying to find a bar for an aperol spritz isn’t as easy as I thought it would be! In the end we walk back to the bar / cafe closest to our hotel.

It really is sweat city. If only there was a breeze of some kind.

Google informs us there is a pizzeria 350 meters away. While we have basically no energy we know we need to eat something before going back to the hotel. And 350 meters isn’t that far.

Yum! It doesn’t disappoint.

After getting my bags from Jenn’s room I enjoy the a/c for a bit before unpacking and showering. It’s been a great but long first day in Italia.

I climb into bed feeling nice and clean just after 9.15pm. It’s been an extremely loooong day. Sleep is absolutely needed!!!

I wake just after 5am on Saturday 27 July. I watch night turn into day from the comfort of my bed.

Jenn and I meet downstairs at 7.45am - feels like 12noon! As soon as we walk outside the sun hits us. We walk off in the opposite direction we were yesterday and end up wandering along the river.

We stumble across a fresh fruit and vege stall. Everything looks delicious.

 

 

Finding somewhere for coffee is proving difficult. In the end we cross the river and within minutes spy a cafe that has outside seats. Win win.

 

I leave Jenn and wander back in the direction of the hotel. I’m meeting Ange, Aaron and family at the train station for coffee mid-morning.

It’s nice to be inside and in air conditioning. Even though it’s only 9.45am it’s already beyond hot.

I have a good hour with Ange, Aaron and family. Catching up over coffee.

Walking back into more of the main part of Firenze the number of people around has increased hugely from a couple of hours ago.

I met Jenn at a cafe before we head for lunch.

 

 

It’s beyond hot (why on earth would you visit Europe in the summer is on repeat in my head!) and we are fading. Time to head back to the hotel.

To be inside in air conditioning is heavenly! It’s going to take a while to actually cool down. My weather app is telling me it’s 35 degrees but feels like 37. I would have said hotter….

Around 5pm I head down to the train stadium to buy my tickets for Tuesday. It’s still super hot!!!

Leaving the hotel again at 5.50pm it feels hotter than it did earlier.

We wander the streets, in the direction of the water. Stopping at the Salvatore Ferragamo store.  Wowzers, the shoes are pricey!!!

We continue wandering. All the bars are in the sun so that’s a no.

Finally we find just a bar. Perfecto. Aperol spritz ordered.

We are both starting to fade just after 7.30pm and decide to wander back to the hotel. A cold shower and sleep is needed.

I finally wake just after 6.30am on Sunday 28 July. I had been awake in the night which wasn’t fun. We meet downstairs just before 8am and head to the same cafe we visited yesterday. The coffee doesn’t disappoint.
 

 

We are heading to the Toscana countryside today for a day’s wine tasting tour. We arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes early.

See travel blog on Tuscany wine tour.

I enjoy arancini balls for dinner at the restaurant in the hotel.

Monday 29 July I wake just after 6am, it’s going to be another beautiful but hot blue-sky day. I watch the hot air ballons in the sky. 

Jenn and I met downtowns at 7.45am – this is not a sleep in holiday that’s for sure! I’ve decided to go to Arezzo, a Toscana town about an hour by train south of Firenze. Jenn has booked a massage at the Four Seasons hotel.

We wander past the train station in a different direction to what we have been going previous mornings. There is absolutely a lot more people around (and it’s not even 8am). Monday morning, and people are going to work.

It’s super quick and easy buying my train ticket from the self-service machine.

See travel blog on Arezzo.

As soon as we start to pull into Santa Maria Novella station I jump up, I need to get out of this carriage! The a/c hasn’t been working.

I walk briskly back to the hotel in the shade – my focus is getting into the a/c and drinking some cold water.

I have a couple of hours relaxing in my room before meeting Jenn at 6.15pm. It’s still a crazy heat, 35 degrees.

We wander down the road for an Aperol. For whatever reason the person making them adds a fake cherry. No thank you!

While it’s hot, we aren’t in the sun and there is a breeze (warm) which is helping.

We wander away from the hotel in search of a restaurant for dinner.

Most definitely not the best meal I’ve had, nor the worst.

 

As we get closer to the hotel I pick up the pace. I need to be in a/c and quick smart!

I wake just after 5.30am on Tuesday 30 July. It has been a short night as I was still wide awake at 11pm. Clearly, I’ve broken jet lag. After packing up I head out for a quick walk around the block.

I stop by at our “local” for uno espresso. I’m in for a rude shock when I return to HK – with the actual coffee as well as the price.

The sun has some serious heat in it when we leave the hotel.

Trying to find somewhere for coffee isn’t the easiest! So many places are closed or are full on restaurants. We want coffee and pastry only.

Finally!

We wander to and across Ponte Vecchio. Some of the stores are just opening now.

 

I leave Jenn and wander towards Centrale Mercato. Stopping en route for coffee.

 

 

 

 

It's nice wandering around looking at all the amazing fresh produce.

I’m so tempted to buy a piece of proper Parmigiano-Reggiano but in the end decide against it. Upstairs is like a fancy food court.

 

 

 

 

I wander back to the hotel, where possible in the shade. This heat really is too much!

Jenn's train to Venezia is at 2.20pm, so after checking out we walk to the train station for pizza.

The place is packed! And with a lot of train employees. Always a good sign.

After saying goodbye to Jenn I decide to go for one more walk around Firenze before heading back to the hotel for some much needed a/c.

 

 

We depart Firenze for Milano Centrale 10 minutes late at 4pm. The announcement advised we are waiting for approval from the control center.

Arrivedeci Firenze, it’s been amazing but brutally H O T!

Ooh my goodness me, this is far from pleasant. Sweating just sitting here. The air conditioning is definitely not working.

We finally arrive into Milano where it’s still super hot. After walking around for a bit I decide to get on the next train to Milano Malpensa Airport. I’m like a walking sweat ball! Praying I can check in early and that there is a lounge for me to shower. A hot and sweaty end to my Italia vacation. Certo che tornerò!