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Day 1 - Sat 01 Oct 11
Up at 07:00 to catch the 07:53 bus to the railway station. However due to engineering works the train is replaced by another bus. This isn't a surprise as when I purchased my ticket online a few days ago it stated this fact. The train bus was still cheaper than the real bus that goes to Stansted. Go figure. The train bus took an interesting route out of town, but we didn't hit any traffic, so maybe that is the best way to go!
Didn't have to check in as that had all been done online. Very small queue for security, nipped into Boots to get a sandwich for lunch, and by that time the flight had been called.
Got on at the back of the plane and found a seat near the rear. Flight was okay, and due to the Indian Summer that we're experiencing got to see a lot of the country as we climbed up to cruising altitude, including the O2 arena in London.
Landed on time, and headed out of the airport, stopping to buy a train ticket from a booth on the way. They charged a Euro per person booking fee -but I then saw someone struggling to use the automatic machine on the platform, and was glad that I didn't have to!
The weather here is hotter than the UK it must be in the late twenties. An hour later the train arrived in Florence. Walk down through the centre of town which is packed with tourists, find the hotel very easily, and check in with no issues.
Had a shower and chilled out until around 19:00 as it's still very hot - went out and located the restaurant I'd used last time I was here, it's just around the corner. Quick bite to eat and then across the river to collect the tickets for The Barber of Seville. It was a great show in the St. Mark's English Church, so you got a good view of the performers up close and personal.
Walked back to hotel at 23:00 and the streets are still full of people.
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