Barb's Big Trip: Day 1 & 2...a.k.a. "getting there"

Okay, so I'm here in Florence now. Rather than a chronological narrative of my days, why don't we just jump right in to some good-things/bad-things, okay?

GOOD THINGS: flight was on time, cello arrived in once piece (phew!), cello flight case and humongous suitcase fit in tiny Fiat Panda (another phew!), hotel is air-conditioned and well-appointed, has free secure parking
BAD THINGS: earache the entire flight, randomly selected for full pat-down at security in Amsterdam airport, horribly lost driving around Florence for 90 minutes in search of my hotel (note: driving without a second person to look for road signs and navigate is a definite challenge for the solo traveler. second note: it's as if all those people on scooters really DO want to die), rolled my cello flight case right over my pinkie toe...hopefully not broken but definitely bruised.

GOOD THINGS: free acqua frizzante in the hotel minibar, nice soak in the huge bathtub, beautiful evening stroll in the neighborhood (just head a few blocks southeast and you're out of what feels like the outpost), perfect light dinner at Ristorante La Martinicca, a charming family-run place, sunset stroll back with lots of bats flitting about BAD THINGS: strolling not so fun with hurt pinkie toe...flip-flops the only option for expansion of swollen toe, all diners at La Martinicca were speaking English (and no one [except me, of course] even tried to order in Italian, come ON people!)

BEST THING: survived and enjoyed the first day of my trip, warts and all!

a few pics...

AC Firenze


cello cases: big case,bigger case


crappy self-portrait in elevator:


house of naps:


Ristorante La Martinicca


Barb's favorite beverages: Pellegrino and Chianti Classico


prosciutto e melone


spaghetti with prawns and asparagus


sunset at the AC Firenze

unhappy pinkie toe. Nice pedicure, though, huh?