Florence

 We have checked into our “somewhat less” than ideal accommodations in Florence and after a few challenges involving lack of clean sheets, air conditioning and no WiFI, we have had those corrected and set out to explore the many ups and downs of this Renaissance city.  The weather continues to hold, warm and humid, and much bottled water is applied to keep us from flagging, especially as we walk endless streets and up steep inclines and Medieval stone steps. We found the Uffizi gallery and decided to leave that for the next day (today, actually) and carried on through a Google-inspired hike up steep cobbled streets until we finally found the Boboli Gardens, a sanctuary of 15th century peace, where we wandered for several hours.

The reward, after 25G steps and much elevation, was the much anticipated first taste of gelato, well worth the effort and the scandalous charge paid:

The big news is that we have extended our stay in Italy by an extra week!  We found an excellent flight out of Rome (instead of me having to return to Milan and fly solo), and that means we can travel home together via Calgary instead of Gatwick.  Direct is so lovely, and so was the price.   Ahead lies the pure joy of planning what to do with that bonus week.  South, probably, to the Amalfi.  Today, our last day in Firenze, tomorrow train to Sienna to pick up a car to explore all the delights of Tuscany for a week.  Pinch me, I am surely dreaming.