Happily dressed in clean clothing we headed out today after a long, hard sleep. Being the seasoned travelers we are we found our way directly to the train station where I intended to purchase the train tickets for Rome in advance. Forget that, all the people not driving like maniacs on the roadway were in line at the ticket counter. Bridget attempted to help by using the automated ticketing machine but I was afraid we'd make an error and be stuck with it so we decided to wait until we returned in the afternoon. It was a cool day so to the top of the double-decker bus we climbed only to eventually scurry back down once the bus sped up the hills. We passed a house where Doystecvesky (I know I butchered the spelling) used to vacation; one designed by Michaelangelo, and numerous other former monasteries and villas. The views were spectacular! We passed vineyards, fruit orchards, flower beds being groomed, and small forests. We traveled through time and history, a cemetary, ancient walls, and streets designed hundreds of years ago while Florence was still the capital of Italy. After finishing our driving tour we left the bus and began walking to the three sights we had earmarked for today. One closed two hours earlier, one had a 2 hour wait for the next tour, and I honestly don't recall what happened with regards to the third. I bought advance tickets for the Uffizi museum and off we went to window shop. We had a lovely chat with a pottery maker and bought a trinket or two from him; we then visited a wine shop where I purchased a bottle of Muskatto wine from a former Chicagoan now married 40 years to an Italian vintner. All in all it was a very long but enjoyable day.
Tomorrow we head for ROMA!!!