Stay alert - watch your bags! - watch for Gary and Margaret - train time approaches - no sign - train time imminent - no sign - board - no sign!
The train starts - in a virtual instant the train stops! - Firenze! - we take up station at the end of the platform - we visually search every passenger's gait for a trace of Gary and Margaret - no trace - they have missed the train!
Store the bags - out of the station - a licensed tourist guide is approached - one Euro sees us depart towards Ponte Vecchio with a personally marked up walking map of Firenze - past the Basilica -
Bernie! - there is one of these bicycle powered rickshaws just like Time Square - shall we? - yes please! - to Ponte Vecchio - lovely young female guide pedals and talks -10 minutes - alight .
Bernie is on a mission - she must find the leather outlet that sold her my beloved wallet twenty years ago - it has moved! - shop keeper after shop keeper is questioned - the detective that is Bernie on a mission uses broken English and broken Italian to track them down - success! - the contents of the dog-eared original transferred to its pristine replacement - the original shown due respect - it is transferred to the far depths of her shoulder bag for safe keeping.
Pause - Medici had walked above us - some photos on Bernie's favourite bridge - the bridge must be feeling the additional burden it bears as it supports the weight of her often re-played memories of her time here with Dione.
A taxi - to David - alas! - a Monday - musio closed - another taxi - the station - the bags - a taxi - the hire car outlet - the rendezvous of the Tuscan travelers.
The Royal couple are experienced Florentines - towards San Giovanni D' Asso - we deviate to the lookout over Florence - for the Royals? - memories of their time in the camping ground in 79 - for the Saliba's? - memories of Gary's time studying at the Observatory - for Bernie? - memories - memories and a few more memories.
Onward - Brian and Gary the drivers - the navigator? - Don Tom Tom from the Western European branch of the modern day navigational dynasty - Brian leads - displays his mistrust of modern navigational devices - no we will not go that way! - the navigator furiously re- calculates - look at that - look at that - oh! - oh! - look at that!
We approach San Giovanni D' Asso - the tourist route - into the village - where is the Vila- there it is - looks a bit rough! - ring the hell -met by a puzzled looking English woman - are you the Australians - you are expected tomorrow! - a frantic conversation 'tween foot and head of stairs - down comes Gordon - old English gent! - I expected you tomorrow - No Gordon - remember we emailed you - oh yes now I remember - oh Dear! what can we do - we have a wedding party - I will see if I can book you into the local hotel tonight - Gordon's sister emerges - typical English matron - her solution ? - makes a cup of tea while Gordon investigates an alternate accommodation - she tells us of the Irish wedding party - she tells us of Gordon's history - her history - 2nd generation Indian Raj - her name? - Maybe!
Gordon returns - we are set up at the hotel - hotel? - a castle! - impressive - delightful people - Michelin restaurant - this looks good! - down for drinks - young maitre'd - chooses wines - local she says - delightful - into dinner - how can a little village be so well endowed? - I am prone to exaggeration on occasions - this is not one of those occasions - unquestionably the best meal I have so far enjoyed! - Picci with chilli - local wines - everyone in awe of the experience.
Retire - satisfied - content- what have we done: - clearly someone is looking kindly upon us!
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