Lets start the day by over sleeping…10 to 20 miles a day of walking can wear a person out….plus skyping with my sweet doggie Eva and Dan at 1am (time difference) makes one sleepy head in the morning….I had already procrastinated packing suitcase (why was it everywhere, I dont have clue) I told myself at 120 am, that I will get up in plenty of time to repack….well, its now 8:10….threw everything in suitcase with sides bulging. 8:30 downstairs to check out….megabus doesnt leave till 9:45 so Im ok, just around corner…grabbed a quick breakfast from hotel asked desk the way to get to bus stop…said for my bus I need to take “people mover”..now 8:45….start down street…wait, its the other way….since I went shopping in Venice , I now have an extra suitcase loaded with souvenirs…but my personal bag did fit inside it, so more luggage. Then there comes that massive staircase over the grand canal..the monster….not counting the 2 smaller stair arches. Clamping up and down these steps with heavy luggage is no easy feat..I should be able to bench press pretty good when I get home.
After making my way to the people mover I bought my ticket 1.5 euro to station where megabus was…I get my ticket ready …NOOOOO….bus to depart was 8:30…its now 9:10. So back to people mover, another 1.5 eu. Have to now go to trainstation….pretty long walk….go into train office purchase ticket….no tickets til 1pm….Im not wanting to wait that long, so I went to the ticket kiosk. For some reason I just didnt believe the ticket booth…sure enough there was an earlier train… (first class…ugh) oh well.
I arrived in Florence without much problem. …my gps is now talking like a Roman…its saying 5 min to room….3 blocks and 1.5 mile of walking I arrived. Of course if I had not went through 3 alleyways and around the trainstation twice…it might had been 5 min….
My first impression of Florence was not the best….it could had something to do with the high heat,dragging heavy baggage on broken cobblestone sidewalks that are 2 feet wide, blister on foot, or the extremly busyness of Florence. I first noticed tourist traps….then i noticed people were not as friendly as people of Rome….they seemed almost rude….like I stated before, sidewalks were 2 feet wide, dragging luggage is hard enough…but many people would almost knock you down….I was getting pretty ill and at the corner I was stopped, this woman was going around me and she actually pointed at my suitcase in her way and said…”ooo picka upo…” i told her “you kissa my asso” but she didnt hear me and she went on….then a little skinny man carrying a briefcase was barreling down sidewalk and got on inside of sidewalk and literally about knocked me into traffic….I swear if I had a third hand I would have knocked him into that brick wall beside him. After that, I got my second wind and decided to take no prisoners. …I went full force like a bull down the walkway…if you were in my way…you were mush under my rolling suitcaae wheels….however; I needed help….the only other willing to help was another American with a better map.
On the last leg to my destination a man came up to me asking if I spoke English (me 5 min ago) when I said yes…he started saying he was from hungry and lost…I said join the club…then he goes into a big spill about how he was stuck, needed money etc… (he could speak only little English himself) after a moment I realized this was scam, I told him no, he kept following me, I told him no, and go away…he kept following me….I was not in mood, I finally got quite beast like and yelled at him and said NO, GO AWAY NOW! He turned his attention to a man passing me and asked him,”do you speak English?” I yelled back at man and said, “tell him No!”
My room is from air B and B…its where you rent owner complete apartments or a private room from them. Since I knew I would barely be here due to tours I had planned, I thought would be good option. Mauro is the owner and he helped me up the 2 flights of stairs to my room….and I also have access to the whole house, which gave me opportunity to do a load of laundry.
After taking a break, freshening up…I decided to go out and see Florence. …very pretty…unfortunately couldnt go into most museums because of time…so I walked, and walked exploring the city…Highlight was when a restarantier wanted me to come inside and eat…he jumps in front of me on sidewalk and begans singing..hated to tell him, I had already ate.
travelingwithkim 
As always, LOVING all your posts and LAUGHING the whole time!
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Thanks for commenting. …sometimes I think Im the only one reading my posts…lol
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