Saturday 06/11/2010

Final breakfast at Abbadia san Giorgio and a farewell kiss and hugs from Susanna and Megali and also wishes for Boun Natale (Merry Christmas). I went down town for another memory card and Mike went up the hill again as he wanted to see how far he could get up the hill towards the B&B but was stopped by a locked gate. Off to the station for the 10:28am train to La Spezia Centrale then a change of train at 12:06pm to Pisa Centrale where we saw John and Samantha (Brisbane) who were off to Rome. Train to Florence left at 1:32pm and was supposed to be air-conditioned however it was fairly full and hot - no air. We had walking directions to Hotel Boticelli and they were good. Streets were busy and there appeared to have been a market on in the large building we passed which we discovered was the Central Market (like Vic markets in  Melbourne) The 2008 Lonely Planet Guide said there was a 5pm English Mass in the Duomo. The receptionist checkd this and it was still the case so we were off to there.On our trip today we say villages everywhere doting the hills, especially on the north side of the train line. Between La Spezia and Mass we saw many yards of marble - obviously the area. Weather warm, probably about 20 degrees and the locals are in heavy coats, scarves and the women are in long boots. Don't know what they wear in winter!! Mass was memorable with the priest having us sing the "Allelua" before and after the Gospel acclaimation and just as an extra he had us do it again at the end of Mass. The Mass was in a side chapel and it was the anniversary of the dedication of the Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo). There were probably about 150 people there.  After this we strolled through the markets (in the rain). There were more scarves, wraps and leather than I think I have ever seen . Stopped for a gelati after dinner on the way home and spoke to a couple from Perth (Brooke and Mark) who were on their honeymoon. They asked where we had been and when we mentioned the Cinque Terre they wantd information because that was to be their next stop. Home by about 9pm