My First Trip to Italy ...the last 36 hours

I woke up on the morning of February 24th feeling a little sad. The words of the song by Andrea Bocelli rang true and stirred within me. The one I am referring to is  titled  Time to Say Goodbye.  I was leaving this beautiful country and going home. I am a "travel bug"and I never want vacations to end ..but alas they always seem too. Needless to say.... I was bummed. It was raining, cold and damp. I had  breakfast at my hotel in Florence and caught  a taxi to the Santa Novella train station. It was early morning and in the US with day light savings time, it would have been  light, but in Italy at 7 am it's still dark. I got to the station about 45 minutes before my train was scheduled to leave for Milan. I decided to make a pit stop before the train left, but wasn't sure where the Italian coed restrooms were. The restrooms in Italy cost 1 euro  which I liked cause they are always clean and have paper,Not like the free ones in the US which are sometimes dirty,no paper, no towels ...I'm sure you get the drift. I saw a group of Policemen who I knew could direct me in the right direction, so I walked up and in my best newly acquired and not so good Italian asked: "Potrebbe dirmi dove la toletta per le donne? ". They coolly answered  in English saying  "They are over there next to platform 5,"  to which I laughed and thanked them.  Afterwards, I returned to the board that announces the trains  to find which platform to run too...they don't give you much time and dragging bags can slow you down. Well finally my train arrived I hurriedly dragged my bags and tried to find what train car I was to board. Where you sit depends on the price of your ticket. On my 2 previous train rides in Italy I had paid more for my ticket and was riding the Frecce trains, a better class, than the inner city train I was riding that morning. I was on carriage 8 and on the Frecce trains that is usually the last car...so I went to the last car and found it was carriage 1 so I ran back and to look for carriage 8 which was the first car on this train. A young woman was on the train and she asked if she could help me with my bags. Of course I said yes, after running back and forth I was glad to have help. I assumed she worked for the train company, Little did I realize until she asked for money  that she was working for herself. I gave her one euro ...she had only helped with one bag which I had made sure I could lift myself if need be. Then she stood and blatantly  asked for more.I told her that was all I had ...she looked angry and  exited  the car.  The man sitting in the car with me looked at me and said with them it is never enough. On the inner city trains,  in the carriage I was in ,you are sitting in what in the US is a compartment, which in Italy has 6 seats in an enclosed room. Not bad for the price I had paid which was under 20 dollars....still not as nice as the Frecce seats I had  had previously. I was tired from my trek to Pisa the day before, so  I dozed the whole way waking briefly when we stopped in different towns,  or people entered or exited  the compartment, to see snow now falling quite heavily. By the time we reached Milan Centrale it had turned into a wintery snow and rain mix.Nothing I wanted to be out in. So I exited the station and walked over to where the taxis were waiting. I asked how much to go to my hotel which I had picked for it fairly close proximity to the central train station. I just about fell over when the driver said 20 euros. I said too much and as I walked away he said 15? I kept walking...I am after all  a Cheapskate on the Loose! I saw another taxi as I walked  to where I thought the street of my hotel was. and showed him the directions I had. This driver told me my hotel was up the street on the right a few blocks. After living in a warm area , walking 3 blocks in the wet snow and rain,dragging luggage  can seem like an eternity. Well I finally arrived at my hotel wet but happy to be inside. I checked in. went to my room 124 which was was very nice and very modern and took off my wet clothing and changed into warm clothing and went out in search of food. It was a Sunday and not that many places were open in the area. I visited 2 supposed pizzerias run by non Italians...the food looked less than appetizing... so I looked further. thinking of one of  my newly learned Italian phrases  Ho Fame!! Luck was with me,I saw a ristorante sign shining like a beacon,  and walked toward it  I looked at the menu on the window and liked the prices so I went inside ate a good filling meal and also got food to take back to the hotel for later and for breakfast the next morning since I was going to the airport very early. I took a hot bath got under a heavy blanket and slept until the evening. When I awoke I tried to call the front desk  to request a wake up call, but discovered the phone in my room didn't work. Annoyed I walked back down to the front desk, I also wanted info regarding the internet passwords.

 There had been a shift change at the hotel front desk, Gone was the nice room clerk, replaced by someone who evidently should not be working in a hospitality  industry where people skills are a necessary trait. He was so rude and nasty. I had read the reviews for this hotel and they rang true in this respect. I ignored the reviews purely because of the proximity  of the hotel to the train station, shuttle to the airport and the fact that the hotel is rated 4 stars...though I wonder how it maintains  that rating. The hotel is also very reasonable in price.   I asked him if someone would knock on my door at the appointed time. since  my phone wasn't operational to wake me?  He replied that they would , but I was skeptical at best. Luckily I had slept enough on the train and the early evening so I wasn't in the midst  of a deep sound sleep   Another shift change and with it a new smiling courteous desk clerk  who knocked on my door at exactly 6:30 am that morning and called me a taxi whose driver  was also nicer than the ones I had encountered the previous  day. The other nice desk clerk had told me the previous day the cab ride should be at the most 5 euros,but when the weather is bad they tend to charge more. Well this driver was only going to charge me 6 euros but I gave him 10 which  I didn't feel was too bad since their meters start at 5 euros. So off I went to Linate airport on the shuttle bus from Centrale station. Later as I went though the gate to board my plane to leave Italy I  felt  sad inside  ....knowing that it was....... Time to say Goodbye ! 

My First Trip to Italy ...half day trip to Pisa

While there I wanted to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Before I left the USA, I booked a tour for a half day trip to Pisa.  The weather was so cold with blustery rain I wondered if the trip would  happen as planned. I was to meet my group at the corner across from Santa Novella station. I chose the afternoon tour as I had been up and out every morning since arriving in Florence. I got to the meeting place early and decided to have a little lunch before the tours  departure. There was a little sandwich shop across from the station. It had the most delicious focaccia and meat paninis, and sweet smooth Italian Coffee, which I had grown to really like. I had stopped there one other morning while waiting for the tram to go to the Duomo...so I returned.
At the appointed time I  went out into the rain and as soon as I walked up a attractive young Italian girl asked if I was waiting to go to Pisa. Relived that the tour was still on,  I said yes and she told me to board the bus that had pulled up. I sat down and we waited for the other passengers to board. We were on our way. The girl that was our guide sat  directly in front and explained sights we saw on the way to Pisa and the history of the area. I feel so bad now that I don't remember her name...she was so great. We arrived in Pisa and the weather had turned windy.It had also grown colder but that didn't detract from the beauty of the Leaning Tower and the Basilica. When we arrived in Pisa also were joined by a guide from Pisa ...Ricardo..who explained the history of the buildings that comprise the Pisa complex.The tour lasted about four hours, and we returned late that afternoon a little cold and tired,  but never the less  having enjoyed the tour despite the weather.

My First Trip to Italy .....Florence

Well after being mentally blown away by the magical splendor of Venice I traveled by train to Florence Italy. I arrived on a overcast Wednesday afternoon to the Santa Novella station. After viewing it on Google earth, I was somewhat familiar with what was in the area. I immediately dragged my bags across the street to purchase the convenient Firenze Card for 50 euros. It allows you to enter a multitude of museums( 83) that have the most beautiful  art and sculptures once in a 72 hour period , and unlimited transportation on the public buses and trams in the city of Florence.  It comes with a booklet, held in a clear plastic on a lanyard. Inside is  the actual card that is activated on your first bus ride or visit to one of the attractions listed in the booklet.The booklet also tells you the Bus or Tram number to use to reach each attraction or museum. I think the Firenze Card  was the most useful of purchases.
After that I rode by bus from the station to my hotel which was right across the street from a bus stop.....I had read online before going to Italy not to take too any bags unless you want to use taxis, which can add to the cost of any trip. As the name of my BLOG Implies...as a Cheapskate on the Loose saving money is my main concern. Plus using public transportation also enables you to mix with the locals and practice your Italian....which I also enjoyed.  
I checked in to my hotel and then went out to get rations to keep in my hotel room. I was kind of disappointed that my hotel didn't have the minibar as advertised, but the helpful desk clerks, offered to put any necessary items in the kitchen fridge.It was so cold while I was there, I ended up putting my milk outside as my room had a small terrace, and it was fine.  Down the street I had found a market that had the most beautiful produce. It looked as if out of a painting.When I travel,  I like to keep snacks, water, milk and fruit to eat in my room. This saves money as well as being convenient. After a long day of sightseeing I would relax have a snack either before or after going out to dinner in the evening. My hotel had a nice breakfast included in the room price. That was enough to keep me going for the trek up flights of museum stairs and walking. Then a light lunch, more sightseeing then back to my hotel in the late afternoon. One late afternoon,  I went  back out  to see the  Ponte Vecchio, as it was only a short bus ride from my hotel, plus  I was still so keyed up and wanted to cram as much as I could into  the 4 days I had.
Florence is a beautiful city and all of the history and art and sculpture dating from the renaissance period is breathtaking. Here are some of  the pictures I took in the time I was there, which wasn't at all long enough.

My First Trip to Italy...Venice and Maurano

Still on a "High" after my realizing one of my dreams of going to Italy!

It was one of the most wonderful places that I have been fortunate enough to visit. I flew into Milan and took the Freccia Bianca to Venice. It was just after dark when I arrived and even though I was worn out from travel...all tiredness left my body when I exited the train station. It was like stepping into a "fairyland". I was in awe ! It is by far the most beautiful of cities. On Maurano Island I had the good fortune to visit the Schiavon Vetreria Artistica  the glass workshop and gallery and showroom. There were some of the most beautiful  creations  in Venetian  glass and to think that I had the privilege of observing the craftsmen making it...WOW !