Wednesday 15 November 2017

The weather matched our mood really, we woke early, despite having gone to bed at 10pm, then up again, both of us couldn't sleep. We decided to make a cuppa and toast and as it was nearing midnight we were eager to hear the result of the "survey" on same sex marriage. What a relief! Perhaps now our politicians can unite with respect and empathy, and pass the necessary legislation to allow same-sex marriage in line with the will of the majority of us.

It was raining through the night but the early morning only saw heavy clouds and wind, the rain had cleared, at least temporarily. We took advantage of clearing the pantry by having fried eggs and last of the bacon and bread. Then I did final cleanup in kitchen while Phil went to bring the car up so we could load the luggage.

Our last walk into the piazza was a visit to Aldo's bar. Our last espresso was 'on the house, as our hosts wished us a safe trip and Italian hugs and kisses from Aldo with us promising to return, yet again.

Then we left Panicale for the twenty-five minute drive to Chiusi. I stopped at the railway station and Phil unloaded the bags and took charge of them while I drove the car to the Avis office, a short walk away. The very charming Italian Avis receptionist took the keys and together we walked around the vehicle to assure Rory that the vehicle had sustained no damage under our watch, then I walked the short distance to the station.

I would like to say our departure from Chiusi was uneventful, however that would not be the Italian way!

We arrived more than an hour before our train was due and so plenty of time to check the departure details. The waiting area was filling up, plenty of people heading to Florence it would appear. There was a group of "black Africans", sitting in a group entertaining themselves on their i-phones or the like. Our platform was already on the departure board, Platform 3. The elevator was still out of order and although the tiling appeared to be completed, for some unknown reason the decending stairs where half closed off. Not looking good, and looking ever likely that we would have to cope with moving our luggage to the stairs, down and along the underground passageway, half way to Platform 3 and up onto the platform. We decided to commence this task a good 20mins before the departure time.

To ease our anxiety I asked Phillip to ask the group of young African men if they would assist, for a fee, to carry our two large cases to Platform 3. They were very happy to do so, while Phillip and I took a small bag each we descended and ascended onto Platform 3, only there were no other people (albetit one young woman) on the platform which I thought was odd.

Thankfully, this young woman asked us if we spoke English and gaining a positive reply, she said, the platform number for train to Florence has been changed to platform 1!! Shock, horror, the two young men had long gone and despite Phillip going back to the main area, they were nowhere to be found. I guess their reward enabled them to move onto a move exciting activity for the day (like proper meal) rather than "hang around a railway station".

While he was gone, I started shuffling one large bag down one section of the stairs before Phillip rejoined me and with a great degree of difficulty we shuffled both large and two small bags, down the stairs, across the passageway to the furthest point and up the stairs to platform one, with 30secs to spare before our train pulled in!

We were thankful for the pleasant trip to Florence and plenty of spare seats so we could store our luggage and sit with them in our view, giving us both time to recover and our heart beats to return to normal!

We would return to Hotel Arizona in Florence for an overnight stay before catching our train to Milan.