Sunday 14 September

Woke up to pouring rain and so stayed in bed until it stopped at about 11.00. This was quite welcome as the previous night we had been to a sardine party given by the camp staff. This was free and the fish, freshly caught, was cooked over a wood fire. Got to bed, after much singing, about 1.00.

Packed up a very wet tent and set off for Florence via Padora – Fewara and Bologna. An uneventful drive made at a high average speed. It was still raining in Florence so we decided to stay at the YH. So had every other camper it seemed but we got in okay. Despite the low price, I was disgusted with the men’s accommodation – two tier bunk beds crammed into a fairly small room. Many rooms like this plus more bunks in the corridor. 

A very nasty smell hung about and my worst fears were founded when time came for lights out. Once again it was Italians causing trouble – talking and even playing the radio [gosh]! Still on the credit side the food was good and cheap and the villa (the story goes it was Mussolini’s Mistresses) delightful. We drove into town to see Florence at dusk – a truly beautiful city, a beauty that cannot be described (at least by my pen) nor can it be accurately photographed. 

[so I did not try]