"Best Mediterranean Cruise ever!!"

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A complete breakfast was included in our hotel's price-70 Euro, or about $90. a night. This hotel was the best bargain on our trip. If you ever visit Florence, make reservations at the Hotel Azalee. They only have about 12 rooms, however, so reservations are essential. Breakfast was served in what can only be described as a quaint English tea room, and antiques were everywhere. It was completely charming.

On Monday, June 25, Foye and I went into the church where the famous Duomo is located, Santa Maria del Fiore. Many years ago, Foye and I had trudged up the 430 steps to the top. This time we watched as younger legs began the trek. Exiting the church, we noticed many ambulances lined up, presumably waiting to rescue people who shouldn't have attempted the climb.

Eventually, we met up again with the San Antonio couple and explored the Market. In this large building where you can find just about any kind of food, from skinned rabbits and ducks (complete with exposed organs), fish, pasta, pastries, breads, wines, cheeses, and more. Then we took a bus to Piazza Michelangelo. This is on a hilltop overlooking Firenze where there is a huge statue of The David. After taking several pictures (thank goodness for digital cameras!) we walked our way back down into the city again. After dinner, we located the Red Garter, where Foye and I had met 39 years ago, when it was banjo music, red checkered tablecloth place that served beer and peanuts. Foye told the manager that we'd met there, and handed him a flyer advertising the place (I had no idea he'd saved it) dated July, 1968. The manager told us he had worked there since 1967, and had passed out these flyers! He took the flyer, and gave us a bottle of champagne in exchange! We entered the establishment, which is now more modern. Gone are the red checkered tablecloths, and LOUD karaoke music has replaced the banjo tunes. We watched young people show us what we must have looked like many years ago. Later, we said good bye to our new friends, who were headed for Rome.

Tuesday, June 26, was my birthday. Foye and I took a bus to Fiesole (fee ay so lee), a town in the country high above Firenze. [Directions for bus stop to Fiesole] There were spectacular views of Firenze on one side, and of the vineyards of Tuscany on the other. We also saw many awesome villas of the very rich.

In Fiesole, we explored Etruscan and Roman ruins, and the museums there. We would have stayed longer to explore the quaint streets, but a very cold wind blew in, dropping the temperature into the 60s, and bringing rain, so we took the busy back into the city. There we did the first real shopping of the trip, bargaining in the markets for gifts to take home. Eventually we got so cold and wet we went back to the hotel. That evening, we found a quaint trattoria with hot soup, good wine, and reasonable prices.

Wednesday, June 27, was the final day of our dream vacation. We planned to do the museums (since they're closed Sunday and Monday) but learned the lard way that you have to make reservations to ensure entry, or stand in long lines for hours and hope to gain entry, since they limit the numbers inside, and only let a few at a time of the unreserved guests enter. After standing ½ hour in a line that would around a block and didn't move at all, we decided to just wander the city some more. Of course, that gave me time to really appreciate the wearable art in the jewelry stores on the Ponte Veccio!

We checked out of our villa hotel around noon, June 27, and boarded the Eurostar train for the 2 hour+ ride to Rome. Again, we traveled through scenic countryside reminiscent of the movie, "under the Tuscan Sun. Italy is such a beautiful country. Train travel is easy and efficient, altho my ears blocked when we were in the long tunnels. When we reached Rome we changed trains and headed to Fumicino, where the Leonardo da Vinci airport is located. Here, we spent the night, since we had to be at the airport at 6 a.m. for our long return flight (via Madrid) to the United States.