Sorry this is a bit late as we have been so busy. Florence, Pisa and Venice.

Rome to Florence was the first of our train rides which took couple of hours, it was nice to sit back, relax and take in the countryside.

Florence was a nice little town in which you could walk from one side to the next, all the streets are cobblestone and one way. All the shops and cafes are just what you imagined small as boutique. We felt very safe in Florence and all the locals were very friendly. Cars ad busses stopped for you to cross the road, everyone said hello. The Markets were amazing with lots of beautiful leather products and stunning jewellery. This was also a good chance for us to put on our bartering caps.
We were also very lucky to go and visit the original David! We were in such awe and I know myself I couldn’t believe that we were standing right in front of it.

While in Florence we went to Pisa for the day, what a busy place. The Chapel was nice but the main attraction was the leaning tower of Pisa. Which stand on a 4 deg angle. I thought it was interesting that they don’t know the original designer of the Pisa as once he realised that he was building it in an angle he took off into the night never to be seen or heard of again. Once the next designer came along he wanted to make the most of the quirk and structured it so it would support the unusual angle.
In 1990 the Pisa was closed as it was on a 7 deg angle and was deemed unsafe so they fixed it by strengthening the ground and support around it and brought it back to 4 deg again.
Pisa was prob the first place we felt unsafe as the pickpockets were in full action and the people selling in the side of the street were very forceful.

From Florence we jumped on another train and headed to Venice, I’m not sure what we expected but it was totally amazing. We rocked on up expecting to catch a taxi and it was a boat!!
We never saw once a car there at all, the whole town is all canals and wee side streets which twist and winds around like a big maze. The builds were amazing all old and beautiful. Again the locals were all very friendly.
It was heaps busier than I expected as people were everywhere all of the time.
When we’re out exploring we came across a food market with some of the local foods made there, they were so yummy and had given us some ideas to try at home.
We were lucky to go to the glass factory and we got to watch a professional make some glassware. He is one of 10 families which is taught from generation to generation and they specialise in one type eg glass chandeliers.
It was lot colder in Venice and it was bone chilling at about 2pm in the afternoon but the sunsets were amazing!
I was asked if the water smelled but it didn’t, it was also very clean no rubbish in the water or on the streets which is very surprising knowing how many people travel through there every year.

Now we are in Paris which we travelled in an overnight train from Venice, this was an interesting experience to say the least but we survived!! Very tired ragged and hungry but we did survive. 4 of us with 4 large suitcases in one room which I think as no bigger than our bathroom ekkk.

Well will be in touch after Paris,
Em and Carolyn xx