Italy
Coverciano

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    • Day 9

      Jour de repos : Florence

      May 23, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Aujourd'hui, nous nous accordons un jour complètement off à Florence. C'est le premier depuis le départ et ça nous fait réaliser qu'en seulement une semaine, on a fait de la route !

      L'objectif est de visiter Florence et pour moi faire les réparations sur mon vélo que je n'ai pas pu faire hier (roue arrière à dévoiler et roulements à changer).

      À première vue, une journée assez pauvre en récit, mais fort heureusement, un certain Leonardo va faire basculer la donne.
      Cet homme est répertorié comme hôte sur une application permettant aux cyclistes en voyage de trouver des endroits où dormir. Nous l'avons contacté afin de passer la deuxième nuit à Florence. Il est très vif et nous envoie toutes les informations nécessaires. Ça commence par un mail avec un questionnaire pointu auquel nous devons répondre pour pouvoir être accepté.
      N'ayant pas de retour, nous l'appelons pour savoir si tout est bon de son côté... Enfaîte, tous ces mails ont été dans les spams et nous n'avions pas vu. Cela est notre première erreur, puisque Leonardo nous renvoie un mail avec l'heure précise de tous ces mails envoyés.

      Bref, nous nous excusons et il nous dit que c'est possible de venir, ce qui fera suite à un nouveau mail. Dans ce dernier, nous trouverons toutes les infos nécessaires pour accéder à son domicile ainsi que toutes les règles à respecter et les barrières horaires (heure d'arrivée, motifs pour lesquels on peut être en retard, heure de repas, heure limite pour prendre une douche, etc...). Nous qui aimons la simplicité des rencontres, on sait que ça ne sera pas le cas, mais rappelons le, nous sommes là avant tout pour l'aventure !

      Nous parcourons ce document et nous rendons sur place. Arrivée devant le domicile, Armand sort de nouveau le document et me dit que c'est tout bon, on peut sonner !
      Après avoir sonné, on observe Gandalf le gris vêtu de sandales sortir de l'immeuble, nous le saluons, sans retour. Il nous fait signe de le suivre et nous adresse la parole 50m plus loin. Il nous dit tout de suite que ce que nous venons de faire, à savoir poser nos vélos contre le mur, est illégal à Florence, c'est notre seconde erreur. Troisième erreur, nous n'avons pas appelé 4min avant notre arrivée...
      Toutes ces erreurs nous mettent dans une situation gênante. Idéal pour commencer !
      Fort heureusement on rencontre Louise et Farouk qui sont également ici en tant que voyageurs.
      La soirée fut intéressante, nous essayons d'en savoir un peu plus sur Léonardo, mais il reste mystérieux. Tout ce que nous arrivons à savoir c'est qu'il a accueilli plus de 5000 personnes. On sent qu'au fond il apprécie accueillir les gens mais il n'extériorise rien. À chaque question que je lui pose, il change de sujet. Quand il s'agit de dire que l'excellent repas qu'a préparé Farouk est bon, ce n'est pas possible pour lui, il se contente de dire que c'est moyen.

      En définitive, une soirée spéciale ou nous avons réfléchi à chaque faits et gestes que nous réalisons pour être sûr de ne pas heurter le Guru.
      Malgré un côté peu sympathique au premier abord, Leonardo est quelqu'un qui aime accueillir et qui a le cœur sur la main. Nous le remercions pour son accueil et pour la soirée originale que nous avons passé. Je ne sais pas si nous reviendrons mais nous nous en rappellerons ça c'est sûr !
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    • Day 15

      Check in at myforte relais de charme

      June 19, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

      Nicest place we've stayed so far, I think. Super nice and helpful front desk, functioning air conditioning, great shower pressure, cedarwood shampoo in a 200ml size, free bottle of wine, ice machine and water filter, a pool... I hope the rest of Tuscany is this nice.Read more

    • Day 16

      Dinner at fortevino

      June 20, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

      This restaurant had been open for 45 days, and is owned by the same family as our hotel. Lizzie got a meats and cheeses platter, and I got a steak in Gorgonzola sauce. It was really good, even though we got there as the kitchen was about to close (10:30)Read more

    • Day 17

      Dinner at trattoria di' sordo

      June 21, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

      We arrived 10 minutes before the kitchen closed (guess that's a pattern for us.. why does everyone close at 1030?) But got proscuitto and mozzarella appetizers, I got pasta Alla amatriciana, and Lizzie got ravioli. Dessert was a nice tiramisu. Maybe we are getting predictable...Read more

    • Day 18

      Back to serafini for lunch

      June 22, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      We slept in and then walked back over to the cafe. I didn't see the big pistachio eclairs so I just got a sandwich, which is just as well since my stomach has been bothering me this week. Lizzie got a sandwich and some pasta.

      Incidentally, while trying to soothe my stomach I discovered that Italian espresso is really good. Plus Lizzie found the eclairs. Woot!

      Oh, and for all that the bill was only 27€. Italy is all right by me.
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    • Day 18

      Last dinner in firenze @ t. Il barrino..

      June 22, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      .. and oh my God did we do it right. We start with the traditional Tuscan appetizer platter... Which turned out to be a ton of things each more delicious than the last. Pea souffle, pate and tomato bruschetta, fried zucchini flowers and ricotta, a sliced meat plate, and an incredible cucumber and tomato salad that makes mine look like child's play.

      Then as if that weren't enough, Lizzie got a veal steak with truffle and I got a steak steak with balsamic glaze and a side salad. Neither was on the menu - Lizzie's was the daily special and the chef created mine when I ordered a steak designed to serve 2 by accident. That would have been 1 kilogram - way to much for me. The resulting filet was tender, juicy, perfectly cooked, and delicious. Lizzie's truffle we also scrumptious; in her words: "uhhhmmm.. yeah. I don't even know. Mouth watering veal and spinach that made me feel like I shouldn't ever cook spinach again, since it won't compare."

      The owner was at our table along with our server, and helped us order, and her daughter operated the till. Family owned and operated by friendly people, delicious and creative meals, and the best tomatoes I've eaten in Italy.

      Finally we had the daily special cake, with Chantilly cream, fresh fruit, and chocolate caramel stripe goodness. Practically had to roll us out the door.

      I am so sad we only discovered this place on our last day, everything was so good.
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    • Day 15

      Hostel Santi 7 Florence

      July 8, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      Arrived at 12:30 yesterday, it was around 35 degrees until the early evening so we made the most of the hostel, its happy hour and the budget wine from the shop next door. This is the first time we have properly chilled since we left home! This morning we got up at 6:30 to get into the city centre for 8, missing the hoards of tourists and crazy temperatures. We were only in the city centre for a few hours but we saw a lot, only downside is we weren't allowed in the cathedral only wearing vests and shorts. Since we got back in the afternoon we have been chilling again (with more wine), making the most of the all you can eat buffet and avoiding scottish people discussing the last episode of game of thrones which we still haven't seen...Read more

    • Day 11

      Day 9, 10 & 11. Florence.

      September 4, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      Our relocation to Florence created no problems for us but the conductor on the train was run ragged by people trying to avoid paying. You had to hand it to him, In difficult circumstances he did a good job.
      We are staying on the outskirts of town and the Via Francesco runs practically past our front door. It will reduce the first day's walk by over 3 kms.
      Our major task here is to visit the Basilica Santa Croce for our first stamp in the pilgrim passport. We were unsuccessful on the Sunday ( bookshop in Basilica closed) but today we succeeded.
      It was on the mid 90's we were here last during a two week Italian course. Shirl used to sightsee in the morning whilst I toiled in the classroom. We used to meet early afternoon in the Piazza della Signorina by the statue of David. It's all changed as the steps have been removed.
      We have revisited all the popular places along with thousand of other tourists. The queues for the Uffizi, Duomo and the Basilica were huge. The city is taking it in.
      We are anxious to start walking tomorrow and our plans are well advanced. Some of the places we were going to stay in are closed. They only open for the summer. It means a couple of longer days but it's manageable. There are several stages we won't due as the distances between accomodation are too long for us.
      We are ready to go and looking forward to tomorrow.
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