Well the day started smoothly (apart from the fact that I woke up just after 4:00 a.m. When the alarm was set for 6:00) and we were all sorted and ready for the cab when it rocked up at 7:00 as required. Got a bit of a scenic tour through the city – although it was still dark as we headed for the airport. For the first time we were flying out from London City Airport. Down the river, east of Docklands.

Were getting ourselves checked in when we discovered – had it pointed out that the 23kg bag allowance we had was for carry on luggage no checked in. We were a tad surprised as I thing even we would struggle to rock up with a carry on bag that size. But the terribly helpful check clerk for British Airways agreed that it was confusing and they often had people who had made the same mistake so she very kindly did an online process so we got our checked in luggage at less than half the price if we had to pay over the desk.

As I had sort of expected the security levels were set reasonably high. My stuff went through fine. But Julia’s got pulled to one side. Every item that could be construed as being a liquid had to be in a plastic bag – even mascara. There was a bit of a delay while that was sorted.

Finally onto the plane and off we went. Had a window seat but the good views flying over London were missed until the heavy dew on the outside was blown off. A loop around and over the Channel and France – flew directly over Paris. Great views of the Alps. Breakfast was served which, other than a “coffee”, I declined. Would retreat that later. Just after we’d flown over Genoa and about 15 minutes before our scheduled landing the pilot came on the blower and informed us that Florence was fog bound and we’d be going into a holding pattern to see if that fog cleared as predicted. If it didn’t;t clear we would be diverted to either Bologna or Pisa.

I had already finished my book and didnt have another downloaded and ready to go. So good old Civilisation was called upon. Setting myself up as Elizabeth I, I set out to take over the world.

Eventually, it was decided that the fog wasn’t clearing and we were to head for Pisa. This involved flying out to sea for some distance. Did start wondering, but then we turned and headed for land. At Pisa and eventually onto a bus once luggage arrived and we went through the loosest custom ever. Bus trip took about and hour and twenty. By which time I had conquered the Indians and the Zulus, had the Greeks down to one city and was getting ready to tackle Rome….

Of course we then had to queue for a taxi. Duly delivered to the hotel which is bang central, two minutes walk from the Ponte Vecchio. Because we’re staying for do long they have given us a fre upgrade to a suite. Veerrry nice – bigger than that in Seville.

By the time we’d got sorted, the stomach was calling out very loudly so went for a stroll. Across the bridge and up to the Piti Palace and down some side streets. Picked up some Chianti and then found a great place where we picked up some prosciutto, olives, bread and Gorgonzola to bring back to the hotel to stave of the hunger until a suitable time for dinner.

Still really foggy and quite cool.

But very cool in other ways!