Last stops in Italy

1 June – Friday
Another full day with a photo stop for a group photo overlooking Florence, then on to a gold jewellery shop and then one of many leather stores for talks and little demonstrations. Then we were let loose for two whole hours to shop for leather and gold. Whilst the leather jackets were beautiful and very fine quality, the gold jewellery was far more appealing, also much easier to pack! A pair of earrings did find their way into the Mary Poppins handbag. The majority of shops were leathergoods of some description, either clothes, handbags or shoes.

Following the retail therapy we became all cultural and were guided around some of the more well-known statues and buildings before arriving at the museum containing David. What a magnificent sculpture. All the copies we have seen certainly don’t do justice to the original. It is just breathtaking to stand and look at this figure carved from a solid block of marble.

A drive through another thunderstorm to the Tuscan countryside for a walk up a hill to another walled medieval town full of souvenir shops (which are all starting to look the same!) but the most superb views of the countryside after the rain cleared. All terracotta coloured villas, vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees.

2 June – Saturday
Left Florence for Pisa and that famous tower – but what a surprise to discover not only the tower but a cathedral and baptistery, all built out of beautiful marble. It is amazing that people are once again permitted to climb to the top of the leaning tower. Then a long drive through 130 tunnels (and over as many viaducts) to say farewell to Italy and bonjour France. Hopefully now we are in France the weather may improve – a week of wet weather is starting to become a little boring. A quick visit to Monte Carlo and Monaco to look at the casino (I think this must have been the first time the security guard had come across Rivers and Black Pepper designer gear, as we only got as far as the foyer!) and drool by Les when he saw all the 2 door Bentleys (rather common actually, and not a Mazda 323 to be seen!!!), Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars and Porsches parked around the small square. On arrival in Nice we were ushered on board a boat (unfortunately, nothing like the yachts moored all around the harbour) for a cruise along the coast and be told once again that it never rains here and the sea is azure blue when the sun shines. Maybe tomorrow.