Filling the gaps

We’ve had a highly satisfactory day, filling the gap between the direct BA flight on Saturday and the first of my events starting on Monday. I’m very glad that I came early and also that it was possible for Mr A to come too.

As usual we were up pretty early, and at breakfast, that seems a little more restricted in choice terms than before the pandemic. It’s still good coffee though. After breakfast, we took a lengthy wander through the city over the Ponte Vecchio (see blip) and through the streets over the other side, before heading back to Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where we had an excellent morning coffee. Then it was back to the hotel for me to get on with some work.

After a few hours, we headed out again, this time in search of lunch. My hunch for lunch turned out to be excellent, and we sat outdoors in a perfect temperature enjoying an excellent and very modestly priced lunch. Signs of our lunch and a few other random photographs are in a collage in the extras.

Back to the hotel again, and more work, before we headed out to meet TJO, who will soon be joining the Edinburgh crew, having previously been part of the Florence crew (well, he still is). Back at the scene of yesterday’s blip, we were also joined by MR, who I literally haven’t seen in decades, who contacted me having seen photos on Facebook. That was funky to see him after so long. He is currently a fellow at the Schumann Centre, on leave from his job in Denver.

Finally we met JDz for a glass of wine and some meaty Tuscan snacks, back in the tourist area. But it was not too bad.

Overall, a fun day, and surprisingly not too hot. It got quite warm around lunchtime and mid afternoon, but morning and evening were both quite cool, especially the latter, as quite a wind has been blowing.

Back in the hotel with enough energy to blip. Now that’s quite unusual for me these days when I’ve been out in the evening.