I did go in to Pisa.
The rain was bucketing down but I had my raincoat and we just walked
fast and got on with it. We dropped the passengers off at the field
of miracles and Erin and I went for Pizza and wine and long talks about
Topdeck. Pisa is one of the very few Italian cities that does not
really interest me. I have spent time there years ago when travelling
with a friend and we did not find it as interesting as other places.
It's still good for eating though!
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| Pisa in the rain! |
It was still raining
as we came in to Florence but it stopped as we were setting up the
cook tent and walking down to dinner. Our campsite is up on a hill on
the side of the city. Our tents are situated between groves of olive
trees and it has beautiful views over the city. It is the only
campsite we stay at that you can walk in to the city from and I think
that makes it special as well. I was sad to see this time that the
space in the camp has been halved after the community has re-claimed their
land and that they are slowly moving their business to another camp
further down the river. Topdeck has been staying here for decades so
it will be sad when it ends.
The walk down to
dinner is via Piazzale Michelangelo. Florence is so beautiful that I
feel a physical reaction to her sight (cities are almost always
women). From Piazzale Michelangelo up on the hill she spreads through
the valley from the towering roof of the Duomo out to the foot hills
and along the river Arno. If she were a woman her skin would be the
golden, beige and cream colours of her buildings, topped with
terracotta red roofs/curls. The green and white of the Duomo sits
double the height of the surrounding buildings and it's massive dome
is a wonder even in this day and age, I can't imagine what people
would have thought of it when it was first built. Santa Croce church
and the Palazzo Vecchio also have towers that rise above the other
rooftops, their spire and turrets stand to show what is important
here. Religion, and money, power and art. The Ponte Vecchio catches
the eye as the bulkiest bridge on the river. I don't think it is the
most beautiful bridge but it's appeal is in the romantic stories and
old traditions that are captured in it's shape.
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| David |
First the hills are
touched by the rays and each house is brought in to sharp relief. My
ideal house is on the top of a hill opposite the campsite. I look at
it each time and imagine how it would be to live there. Next the
river Arno looks as though it has taken the sun underneath its waters
entirely. Its curves have a golden light all of their own and they
glow, illuminating the bridges and buildings on either side. Lastly
the tops of all the buildings in the city are made bright on one side
and shadowed on the other, creating a dramatic landscape for as far
as the eye can see.
We walked down the
hill and crossed the river to the House of Sizzle. This is where we
go for our dinner each time and the staff welcome us warmly and feed
us rich delicious pasta and meat, lining our stomachs for the night
ahead. The night ahead played out in the Karaoke bar next door. The
Red Garter was pulsing that night, there were 4 Topdeck groups in and
at least 3 contiki and they crowded around the stage, everybody
wanting to sing. I got up early with Diana who chose 'don't stop
believing' and then then much later in the night I got up with Erin
to sing 'Fancy'. I had a great night that didn't end until late when
I walked back up the hill with a passenger and fell in to bed for
just a few hours before breakfast.
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| Karaoke at the Red Garter |
After Erin, Zsolt and I
had napped for a bit we struggled again to get up and in the perfect
weather that they day had managed to turn in to we walked down to town
for lunch. We went to the Topdeck favorite restaurant, Francesco Vini's and I
had a Florentine steak salad which hit the spot and was only improved
by the gelato I had afterwards of custard and mascarpone with
caramelized figs. This gelato shop is going to be my new favorite in
Florence I can tell.
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| So close to heaven... |
After lunch we
wandered the city. Ducking in and out of shops and winding our way
down streets we have never been to before. Zsolt says this city is
his favorite, it is definitely mine and I know it holds a soft spot
for Erin as well. I find it strange that so many Topdeck trips spend
only 1 night here before they hurry off to Rome. To me this city is
essential and you could spend a week here and still be satisfied with
plenty to do. I am glad that all the camping trips stay 2 nights.
When we eventually
got back to camp we found most of the passengers at the bar drinking
and having dinner and I joined them for some wine and chats. I had a
pretty early night though as I was shattered from the last few nights
and this morning I am feeling better for it.
It rained again all
last night and this morning. We re-located breakfast to the bar
undercover and now are speeding our way through the rain to Orvieto
and then Rome. It will be interesting if it is raining there too.
Nothing like a 4 hour walking tour of Rome in the rain!
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| Fabio gets a lift up to Orvieto |
14/9
It stopped raining!
We got to Orvieto and it was fine if a little cold. Orvieto is a
little Italian town in the Umbrian region that is situated on the top
of a hill with steep cliffs surrounding it. It has been settled from as far back
as the Etruscans and was used as a popes residence at times as well
and so it has a lot of history. We only stop there for about 2 hours
and so our main things to do are to visit the Duomo and eat wild
boar. The Duomo has some of the most intricate mosaicking I have ever
seen on the front and the sides are striped white and a dark green.
Some trip leaders trick their groups in to licking them saying it
tastes like peppermint but Erin realised that she had tricked our
group one too many times for that to work.
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| Mosaics |
We went to a
specific restaurant for lunch and this time I had the wild boar pasta
on Erin's recommendation and it was just phenomenal. It is going down
as one of the best pastas I have had, Parpadelle with tomato sauce
and rich and gamy boar. So so good.
It was still fine weather as
we drove down to Rome and by the time we got to the campsite I
changed in to shorts to set up the tent which is much better weather
for a Rome walking tour! I had a personal accomplishment when for the
first time ever I managed to put up the cook tent by myself. I was
supposed to be waiting for Zsolt but I thought I'd challenge myself
instead. Perhaps only those that have done a trip will realize how hard this is, suffice to say, I will not be doing it again in a hurry, it was lucky I didn't hurt myself. After I got to chat to some Rome staff who are always a
pleasure to come back to. And of course the site crew Kat and Alexis.
I went shopping for a few hours in a nice familiar shopping center
with intentions of coming back and cooking my lasagna but I got
distracted by eating dinner and chats and drinks.
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| Lasagna time! |
That night wasn't
supposed to be a big one at the bar but we had half of our passengers
leaving the next day so it was farewell drinks for us which turned in
to dancing and partying until late.
The next morning was
a massive struggle to get up for but I was up at the tent cooking
bacon and eggs for their breakfast and to my surprise most of them
were able to get up and grab something to eat before their Vatican
walking tour. I had a big cooking day then, making my 3 cheese
lasagna that I hadn't the night before, Bruschetta and Tiramisu. I
wanted to get a bit experimental with my Tiramisu inspired by my ice-cream the other day in Florence. So I caramelized some figs to add in to the cream
mixture. After a quick skype session with mum it was 1.30 and nap
time.
Erin met our 4
joining passengers, 3 guys from Aus and one from NZ whilst I snoozed
and when she was done we went to the shops together and Erin even
tried driving left hand drive! (only in the car park though). There wasn't a lot to do
for dinner as I had done it all in the morning so I prepared lunch
for the next day and talked with the many people who stopped by my
tent for a chat. At dinner we had a nice mixture of leavers and
joiners who all loved the meal. That night was a cross-dress party at
the bar and there were 4 groups in so it was busy. Cross dress night
is the funniest thing to look at. So unattractive for both guys and
girls but as long as you are not looking to pick up it is hilarious.
Another cheeky smoke bomb at 1am and I was dead to the world in no time.
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| Cross Dress, so sexy |
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