I put makeup on in Newark, NJ and (eventually) took it off in Florence, Italy - with side trips to Milan and Sienna. I don't recall the last time a shower felt so good.
When I left off, we were 30,000 feet in the air and I was trying to catch a few winks. I got a few, but that was about it. Sydney, who was seated between Sam and me lapsed into a sleep coma and it took both of us to wake her once breakfast was served.
Thankfully, the flight was uneventful and we had a breezy trip through customs and onto the one-hour train from Malpensa Airport into Milan proper - which we never saw aboveground. Once in Milan, we needed to book ourselves onto the high-speed train to Florence. By the time we found the correct kiosk Tony noted that the next train was leaving in four minutes. That man is a miracle worker with a kiosk. While he completed the transaction, Sam located our track and we literally all ran, full tilt and then jumped on the train in whatever car was closest. It took a bit of sorting out as we were booked in three separate cars, and we were all pretty far from our proper seats, but we made it! The train (Trentalia) was fabulous. I was paired with Sydney, who spent the entire two-hour ride lapsing in and out of her sleep coma.
Upon arrival in Florence, we had a very easy five-minute walk to our apartment. Though the apartment wasn't officially ready, the awesome landlord let us change our clothes and leave our luggage. Because of our "lost day" we knew the only way to afford a full day in Venice tomorrow would be to force ourselves onto a bus to Siena today. And so we did and it turned out beautifully. Despite the heat, coupled with exhaustion, we loved the one-hour bus ride through gorgeous Tuscany to spectacular Siena. So glad we went. We only had a few hours but we made the most of it by hitting the highlights, including the Duomo, Il Campo, and just wandering the lovely streets. Upon Rick Steves' recommendation, Tony and I climbed the bell tower, which may not have been a good idea from an exhaustion perspective, was a fabulous idea from a perspective perspective. Cannot wait to see those photos!
We rode back to Siena on a double-decker bus and the girls (and Sam and I) got actual thrills from riding in the front-most seats of the second level. It's a crazy drive from an Italian bus driver's perspective!
Back in Florence, we stopped at a market for fresh bread, fresh fruit, mascarpone cheese, and a bottle of Chianti (all for about 10 euros) we headed to our apartment where [cue sound of brakes squealing] we were met with the multi deadbolt locks from hell. Long story short, it took Sam and Tony a full 10 minutes to figure out the confusing series of locks, while we all just wanted to go inside to eat, shower, and relax. I am happy to report that, once the lock was decoded, that that is precisely what we did. The apartment is amazing!
Good night all - now it's time for MY sleep coma.
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