Article written in NOV 2007
NOV 22, THR - Florence
Blu-Express Flight BV 1759
Depart Catania 22 Nov 2007 @ 09:10
Arrive in Rome @ 10:30
We took a taxi from the Airport to the Indian Embassy – Euro 50. Reached the embassy @ 12:00 PM. After going through our paperwork, we were asked to come back on a later day before 10:30 to make a payment for OCI. DS talked his way through and successfully submitted the OCI paperworks.
Took a taxi from the Indian Embassy to the Rome Termini – Euro 6. We grabbed sandwiches at the Termini – Euro 15.
Bought the 1st Class Train Tickets from Rome to Florence – Euro 94. The train was splendid and very fast. We departed from Rome @ 2:45 pm and reached Florence S. M. Novella @ 4:15 pm.
Checked into Hotel Alamanni @ 5:00 pm. The room that was allocated to us was not part of the main hotel. It was just 100 meters away from the main hotel. Nevertheless, the room was spacious and very clean.
Alamanni Hotel
Via Alamanni 35, Florence, 50123
We ventured out later around 6:00 pm. We stopped by a small café and got Potato chips and Water for Ajit, Vodka with Kiwi Juice and a beer on tap for Shankar – Euro 10.
For dinner, we found an Indian Restaurant called Haveli very close to our hotel. We had Kheema naan, Aaloo Paratha, Chicken curry, Mutton curry, Biryani and Gulab Jamoon – Euro 41.
NOV 23, FRI - Florence
- Uffizi Gallery
- Boboli garden
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazza San Giovanni - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Breakfast in McDonalds.
Took the Red Touristic bus. The tickets are valid for 2 days – Euro 20/person. Costed us Euro 40 totally.
Went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Ajit had minced meat Glass noodles. We had Hot and sour soup, Veg fried rice, Shrimp fried rice, Malaysian Chicken - Euro 54.
Ajit got a Pinocchio puppet on strings. We got 2 apples, some grapes, blue berries, raspberries, 2 bottles of water and disposable razors in a store – Euro 25. We then headed back to the hotel around 5:00 pm for a short rest.
We went out later around 9:00 pm to the same Indian Restaurant, Haveli, as previous night. Tonight, it was crowded. We had Kheema naan, Aaloo Paratha, Prawn curry, Mutton curry, Chicken Biryani and Gulab Jamoon – Euro 57.
NOV 24, SAT - Pisa
Train every 30 min to Pisa
Journey time 1 Hr 40 Min.
We had fruits for breakfast. Then packed all our bags, checked out of the hotel and walked to the train station. We bought the tickets to Pisa – Euro 8. The train departed at 9:30 am. This was a slow train and not that nice and trendy like the Rome-Florence train.
We reached Pontederra station at 10:15 am. We got down and walked to the station lounge. We got 2 slices of pizza, 2 cornetto di marmalatta and 2 caffes. We were about to eat when Adriano showed up to pick us up. He and Shankar went out to get the car. They returned back after 30 minutes. Meanwhile me and ajit finished our breakfast. Adriano took us on an hour long tour of Toscana – Pontederra, Volterra etc.
We reached their home around 1:30 pm. We had Lettuce, tomato and mozzarella salad, Pane Integrale and Prosciutto crudo for lunch. We were just about finishing lunch when Mario’s sister, Olinda called. We all piled in the car and headed to Pontederra town to pick up Linda.
From there, we headed out to Leaning Tower of Pisa. Spent the evening there taking pictures. Later went back to Linda’s home.
We watched the videos of Adriano taken in Chester(UK) and South Africa.
For dinner we had Spaghetti w/tomato sauce, another homemade pasta with tomato sauce, Caprese Salad(tomato and mozzarella), Peanuts and Oranges.
Later Adriano copied some software for Shankar. Around 10:30 pm, Ajit had fallen asleep in Linda’s house. Then we took our baggage, loaded into the car and headed out to Pisa @ 11:00 pm. It was pouring in Pontederra. At 12:00 midnight, we arrived at Hotel Terminus Plaza in Pisa.
Hotel Terminus & Plaza
Via Cristoforo Colombo 45, Pisa, 56125
Night stay in Pisa.
NOV 25, SUN - Pisa
Booking number: A72BIF
Windjet Flight IV 541
Depart Pisa 25 Nov 2007 @ 14:55
Arrive in Catania @ 16:30
Breakfast in Hotel Terminus.
Head out to Leaning Tower of Pisa. Walked all the way from the hotel to Leaning tower. Kids under 10 not allowed to climb the Leaning Tower.
Around 11:00 am, Linda and Adriano arrive with wonderful homemade sandwiches. We sit by the beach and have the sandwich.
Arrive late at the airport and miss the flight to Catania. Adriano drives us to the Train station. Take the evening train from Pisa to Rome.
Dinner at Rome Termini Mc Donald’s- 3 McChicken sandwiches, 2 Hamburgers, 6 piece McChicken, 2 Potato wedges, 1 French fries – Euro 11
We got some Snacks – Potato chips, Grancereale biscuits, Gum, Gatorade – Euro 5.
Arrive in Sicily Monday morning @ 10:00 am.
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