Florence (at last!)

We are descending towards Rome we hoped fiercely that our luggage would be meeting us!

We are glad to be out of Dubai. It seems a creepily paternalistic place for a modern woman like Lyn. Too many women looked like moving black tents. Every shop had a large staff of more modern-looking young women who were supervised by a male supervisor in a jacket and tie. These men appeared completely surplus to requirements.

We arrived at Rome airport which, in contrast, appears to be run by stylish young women, while the men sit at desks stamping passports with all the enthusiasm you would expect from people whose job is to stamp passports.

At Roma Terminale, the main station, we went in search of an Italian sim for my mobile. At the TM shop bewildered looking tourists took tickets and waited their turn. Three women worked there. They clearly had forms to fill, people to "Ciao" and kiss, and mysterious things to do in the back room. In an hour they moved from number 34 to 38. I was number 73. I gave up.

Downstairs we found the rival Wind outlet. I took a ticket. We moved more quickly through the long waiting list but it was still desperately slow. Anybody who goes to an Optus shop knows how slow!

Then disaster! A third young woman arrived. All work paused while everybody Ciaoed and kissed. Eventually she began work too. Meanwhile the scarily punctual Italian train network added a new dimension - we had 20 minutes till our train departed! 

I was at the point of giving up when my number was called. I went to the desk with a travel Sim pamphlet, my Samsung and my passport. "I need one of these but my train goes in 20 minutes!" Cara, Gabriella, Sophia, or whatever she was called, looked at me with an expression that said, "No chitchat for you", and hurtled through the Italian bureaucracy like Tarzan through the jungle. 20 Euro - and we were done with time to spare.

If I ever need to get something achieved in this country I'll just say my train is coming. However, I'm sure the Ciaoing and the kissing are the greater gift to world culture.

We caught the Frecciarossa to Florence on time and were able to relax. Then we walked the short distance to our apartment in Florence. This was was once part of a 15th century nunnery complete with garden courtyard, terracotta floors and frescoed ceilings - sort of shabby wow! We like it. On the short walk to the supermarket for supplies we stopped for a photo outside of the church of Santa Maria Novella. We wandered past an arched gallery decorated with the coats of arms of Florentine noble families.

Then we took an evening stroll before having dinner at a nearby osteria. We feel like we really are on holidays now.