Cash's Holiday

Hi again so soon,

Firstly before this blog starts, this photo was taken from our apartment window down into the piazza nearby, through the archway is the main one where any community activity is centred. We will post more but the blasted rain is still hanging around…has been following us since we left France.

You won’t believe what its like here in the old sector of Soriano…hopefully you should be able to click on the pictures (when they come) to enlarge them to really see in detail the way the buildings / roads are structured. It really is Oliver Twist country. I know I seem to be making a bit issue of this but when comparing NZ to what we are surrounded by is a big  issue …Amen.

Talking about going back in time, shall backtrack to Ravenna briefly as I have to confess I came down with a stomach bug and spent most of our free day in my hotel room. Had to happen at some stage I guess…not necessarily to me mind you. I know what it was too,  Tortellini, my first pasta dish of the trip…..was really nice at the time but will try cooking it myself next time. Anyway didn’t mention Ravenna to bring up (excuse the pun) my temporary problem.

The city is known for the early Christian & Byzantine mosaics inside its churches and monuments.  Has 8 listed Unesco world heritage sites. The outside of some are quite plain but the interior is something else, amaizing detailed work to be seen on the ceilings etc  (I did manage to see a couple of examples before leaving the next morning)

On to Florence or Firenze as our map says…… Within the Beautiful region of Tuscany, so pretty… hillsides doted with dark green acacia type pencil pines mixed in with the grey green olive trees, vine yards,  the picture topped off with orangey/yellow clay houses scattered about.  Stayed in a small town `Pontassieve’  1/2 hours train ride out of the city….(voted to make driver and navigators life bearable). The number of tourists….we all look the same, you can’t mistake us. Clutching our bags (ladies) as if the crown jewels are within. The lonely planet reads `Florence can seriously overwhelm’….The talent from centuries ago is there in abundance. To round the corner from the train station to see buildings in ornate marble of many colours does stop you in your tracks….so do all the other pairs of eyes for that matter….referring to the thousands of tourist again.

The rain is still with us, this morning (Sunday) still being quite cold as we got up early to watch the spectacle of a Fiat 500 rally hosted from here in Soriano. Counted more than 30 and photos to come. Some  cars hotted up to the point of requiring the boot (engine within) to be propped up. We thought it started at 8am …. meanwhile 11.15am all finally broke loose with the cars filing out, horns tooting, fog horns being held up through the little fold back  roof section of some of the cars, blasting away, the nearby church bells resounding within the buildings of the piazza. The noise was deafening. People waving, shouting, really getting in to the spirit of the event.  This is all part of  continual weekend celebrations for SaintEutizio that have been occurring since Friday night.

Weather forecast for improving conditions….lets hope (: ) G