Grim aldi or what??

Sunday 20th, after a fantastic couple of days in Valencia and Gandia experiencing the festival of the Fallas, it was time to get our kit back on and set off for the port of Valencia to catch the Grimaldi ferry. Our ship ‘The Catania’ was due to sail to Livorno NW Italy at 2pm (for those that want to know, it’s just down the coast from Pisa and its leaning tower). The sky was pearlescent blue, the temperature well above 20 degrees, our steed chomping at the bit and us looking forward to the delights and mysteries of what Italy may bring.

So at just after 11.45 we hit the road to travel the 65km to the port, giving ourselves plenty of time to do the journey and enjoy the scenery on the way. The journey took us about 40 mins and we found the port easily (a sigh of relief from Ann). It took us another hour to actually find the the ship, what a feckin mission that was; But hey that’s all part of the fun of this journey, I just wish it wasn’t at times when the time was so critical. I have to say we were startin to panic a bit, but fair play we kept our cool (under severe pressure) and with a lot of help from him upstairs and Ann on the back, we got there in the end with about half an hour to spare, but with no great thanks to the Grimaldi Shipping Line and their port road signage.

There was just enough space for us to park the bike on the lower deck of the ship, after which, we were personally escorted off the car deck up to the reception level. I was beginning to think we were going to be admonished for our late arrival, but nothing of the sort, we were welcomed by the purser and each given a cabin key and told to enjoy the trip. Well, swipe me sideways with an elephants trunk, it turns out we’ve only got a cabin each, and along with another single passenger, we’re the only passengers on the entire ship, it was like the Marie Celeste, not a soul to be seen. We couldn’t believe it, the complete run of the ship, our own chef and waiting staff that seemed to appear then disappear for two days - Roman Obramavich eat your heart out!!

 We shed our bike kit, donned our shorts and T shirts and headed upto the Heliport deck where the sun was burning brightly waiting for us. We got hold of a couple of empty seats (as if there weren’t many) and made ourselves comfortable in preparation for our sailing. Before anybody asks the question, no there was no helicopter and pilot at our disposal, and we didn’t care to ask in case they might have thought we were taking the ‘P’ The two day journey was quite uneventful, we got to know the few staff that were on board and met the other passenger , Roman Obramavich, who told us he’d been reading our blog and had rushed out to Valencia to meet us. Actually, I’m telling porky pies – he hadn’t rushed LOL. The boat docked at 06.30 on Tuesday 22nd, the Italian sun was out to greet us along with the Italian Papparatzi,and although cool it was a lovely morning. We were up and at it, our steed had switched to Valentino Rossi mode and was eager to feel the tarmac on the rubber (I had to calm and throttle him back). We headed into Livorno to find breakfast after which we mooched around Livorno before taking off to Firenze (The beautiful city of Florence).




Kit removed and Shorts on in Florence



A view from Cathedral tower 464 steps! Ann's workout
for the day



First impression of Italy, was how similar it is to Britain, the congestion, the aggressive and impatient motorists, the roads, which are appalling and probably even worse than ours, the very green fields and the general appearance of the beautiful countryside. We arrived in Florence at 11am having covered the 110km in just under two hours. We found excellent accommodation in the centre of Florence at an incredible price, so good in fact we opted to stay for two nights, allowing us to get to see the tourist hot spots and the many works of art.

We removed our gear and changed into shorts and t-shirts, it was very warm and sunny with temperatures in the early twenties, but I have to say the Italians are still wrapped up in their long and stylish coats, for them it’s still cold, and probably winter.



An optical illusion; is the tower
leaning, or is it Tony?



We spent the entire day being constantly amazed, each building and work of art better than the last; we even had our own wierd and wonderful Damien Hirsts infamous diamond skull, on display in the Palazzo Vecchio! Of course there are many churches, each quite beautiful and significant in their own right , but nothing in Florence could surpass the magnificent Cathedral Di Santa Maria del Fiore, in the Piazza Del Duomo, where the bishop celebrates mass. It is also known as the ‘Duomo’, a word that comes from the Latin domus, meaning house – The Duomo is the house of God. It was an awesome building, one which we hope we have captured in the pictures.



Yo Paul Moore, this is better than your home brew
Not Nelsons, but Tonys Revenge

After a long day, we found ourselves a cafe bar, not too far from our accommodation, where we ate some local cuisine and washed it down with some Italian real ale (can you believe it! Though Ann, miserable cow, only drank water), and reflected on the wonders of Florence, before retiring back to our room for a well deserved sleep.

We got up early the next morning, had breakfast at a cafe up the road, and felt sufficiently fortified, ready to do what visitors do best in Florence – sight seeing and taking pictures. We enjoyed the day taking in as many of the sights as time permitted, we even met four sisters over from England who were also enjoying the wonder of Florence. I even went as far as eating a pizza, which I have to say, is not a type of food I’m particularly disposed towards. However, I absolutely loved it and suddenly realised what I had been missing all those years; blimey,there was a strong risk that I could get to like them. Hey Georgio I’m becoming Italian - Pizza’s, olives, even artichokes, I wonder what the chuff will be next – a Duccatti??

Look, who's the geezer trying to get out of Tonys backpack?



Yummee 'Just one Cornetto'. Ann & Tony singing a duet.
The cloth cap on the floor is conveniently out of shot!!



 

And so friends here endeth this blog, tomorrow 24th March,we will be heading south to Perugia......

Love and best wishes to everyone back home The Easy Riders xxxx

Here are a few more pictures.......

  



Back View of potential new JP Outlet- Florence Branch

 

 

   

Front View of proposed JP Unit, at a very advantageous Lease
Negotiated by the 'Master' Ballingerbob.





Hey Smithy Look a real Brooks Saddle
probably worth more than the bike



For all the purists, A modern day take on the traditional beer cellar, eh by gum
Hope you guys don't mind warm beer