Have you got the tickets?

Halfway to the bus stop from our hotel a little voice from behind asks me "have you got the tickets?" I stopped and turned to Katie and said, "no, you normally carry them".

Thankfully the bus stop is close and we didn't need to track back far however it does make me think of the unofficial roles each of us has assigned ourselves on this trip.

I would be the logistics person, have google maps in hand and a clear path planned out with also a backup plan in case of road closures or buses just not appearing. I also try to have contingencies for the contingency plans that don't work.  For instance this afternoon I planned after the Vatican we would leisurely stroll through Rome back to our hotel, or if we were tired catch a bus.  We were tired after the Vatican Museum, but we didn't know what bus or where to find one. Normally I get out the phone, find free WiFi and then Google tells us the bus and where to board. Today, however, in the area of the Vatican, I couldn't get free WiFi (apart from the hospital WiFi but I needed a patient ID to log in).  So our backup to the backup plan kicked in, get a TAXI.  From where we were it only cost 11euro and was well worth resting our little feet.

Katie's unassigned and unlisted role would be to make sure our pre-purchased tickets are on hand each day, to be on the lookout for a toilet or a cafe that would be a nice place to stop and to know the location of our passports at all times.

We both also have the role of security, which is more important in the large cities like Florence and Rome.  I don't mean carrying weapons and wearing a flack jacket, but looking out for each other.  These cities are rife with pickpockets and opportunists and when one of us is taken in by the scene presented to us, for example, a magnificent building or the bend in the river with the ancient Roman bridge, the other is on the lookout for gipsies, African scammers, Romanians or other opportunists.

Anyway, for the first time, Katie forgot to get the ticket from out suitcase this morning. It was ok, we went back to the hotel and collected them, not bad for someone who has been sleeping in someone else's bed for almost 4 weeks!

Today we caught bus 492 toward the Vatican, it was hot inside and crowded, to the point we almost got off early.

Thankfully we were able to hang in and made it to the Vatican where we had to pass the gauntlet of 'Tourist Info' officers.  These are fake helpers that blanket the streets near the Museum entrance and try to get your attention and sell tickets to the museum along with tours.

It is difficult to be rude and ignore these fake 'Tourist Info' officers, but there is no way to get through otherwise.

As we had been to the Vatican in 2012 on a tour, we had a specific path and list of items we wanted to see, for Katie it was the Egyptian section and me it was the Gallery of Maps.  We both wanted to see the Sistine Chapel and then, of course, St Peters Basilica. 

Arezzo, Lucignano and Cortona

Lake Trasimeno

Thankfully we were able to get in to see what we wanted.

I would like to note however, how disrespectful some tourists can be.  One should never, ever, touch a piece in a museum, be it a painting or a stone.  Numerous times both Katie and I saw visitors to the museums touching items. A museum is one of those places where one can look, but not touch.

The Nativity scene was still on show in St Peters

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Police, Bridge, Palace, Museum and Baptistery

We took a walk across town this morning to take up Stefano's offer to see his place of work at the Carabinieri barracks.  It was an unexpected and interesting insight to see inside the Italian military force.

On route, we passed a crochet shop that was unfortunately closed and we passed through the local market, Sant'Ambrogio Market. This was mostly a fresh fruit and vegetable fare.

We were able to take some photos with Stefano but have selected not to include these in this public blog as the photos were taken inside the barracks walls.

Stefano was unable to take us to his office as it was currently being relocated from one building to another, an event that appears to happen when new governing chiefs come into the regional office.

We were fortunate enough to have an espresso and cornetto (a type of croissant) with Stefano at the cafe on base.  This base was very busy and followed the always confusing (to us) method of purchasing and having your purchase.  In this instance, Stefano went to the cashier and ordered the coffee and advised we also wanted three cornettos, of which we pointed to in the case and they were handed to us directly in a paper napkin.

All three of us then ate our cornetto whilst trying to find a place further along the bar where the barista was making continual espressos.  Basically at this point, from what I could gather, Stefano waited 'til those before had been served and then, in turn, told the barista our order again.

It appears to be an honesty system and this is not just because we were in a barracks, it also happens in bars (coffee shops) in civilian life too.

After our release from the barracks, we then walked along the banks of the river Arno and passed over the Ponte Vecchio but not without stopping for another coffee at one of our favourite coffee places, Cafe Mingo.  We like this bar as it is a no-fuss place and is accommodating to us tourists who don't necessarily know the correct procedure of ordering and collecting drinks, also we have never been charged for the pleasure of sitting at the tables.

The Ponte Vecchio is an amazing bridge and has numerous jewellers perched either side of it.

From here it was along Via de' Guicciardini toward Pitti Palace.  Our last visit to this palace was back a few years ago wherein Summer we spent most of our time in the gardens.  I understand the Ufizzi Gallery has more famous works of art, but I much preferred the visit to the Pitti Palace.

The palace is made up of different sections on multiple floors and the art is in its original location where the Medici family would have also viewed the artworks.  Also in this palace is much of the furniture that would have been used by the Medici.

After a walk back over the Ponte Vecchio, we stopped off to drop a coin in the well with the boar and then continued to  Piazza della Repubblica where we watched a man making bubbles for the children.

After a short rest in the Piazza, it was over to Museum of Opera of Saint Maria of Fiore (Museum of the Duomo).

This was a new and modern museum showing many of the features from the Duomo that have been removed to save them from the elements.  It also covered how the Duomo was constructed.  The museum was very interesting, had an app that could be used on the smartphone and provided free WiFi with the entry. We both found, however, it was a little confusing to navigate around the three floors and we did need assistance from one of the employees.

With this ticket, we also gained entry to the Baptistry, which we had never been into before.  Currently, it appears that the inside is in a state of restoration, which is good and required.

After that full day, we stopped by the local Conad (supermarket) and got some supplies (wine), then returned to our accommodation, typed out the blog and had a little rest.

Before dinner, we took in the lights from and around Ponte Vecchio.

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