For boys of my generation, when you say Micaleangello, Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello, you think of pizza-eating mutant turtles, not Renaissance artists. It is still possible that I will carry on thinking that after visiting the city, that allowed them to flourish.
Florence is one of those places with such stunning architecture and works of art that will draw people worldwide. It means that some areas get very busy. Queues are long and overwhelming if you need to know what you are doing or what to look for.
Especially when you have spent the previous few days in a smaller place where life is much slower. Having spent the past two days exploring the Tuscan countryside, I needed to prepare for the big city.
The overwhelming need for the toilet hit me when I hit the streets; it wasn't pleasant. It costs a Euro to use the public toilets, so you need the cash or the ability to find one of the toilets to have a comfortable time.
The biggest hurdle to start with was finding an ATM, which, as soon as I did, they all came out of the woodwork. Then, there was finding a convenient convenience. I finally tracked down, and the day could start.
Having recently read about Geoffery Chaucer's trips to Italy, it was interesting to see the buildings that would have been built or recently built when he visited and how much of an influence his time in Tuscany had on not just him but his writing. He was potentially inspired by Luccan writer Giovanni Sercambi, to whom the Shipman's Tale is similar. T.S. Eliot said, "Good writers borrow, great writers steal."
I was happy to wander the streets in the fine drizzle while many tried and failed to sell me an umbrella. My hair was already wet. Florence is a place to visit again and is the sort of city where you need more than one of you to help take everything in and wait in the queues. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore has an almost pen and ink quality, making it stand out from its surroundings.
Once back into the relative tranquillity of Lucca, I arrived back at my accommodation to find there was no power in the building and with my phone battery running low, I was worried I wasn't going to be able to recharge it before moving on to pastures new.
It gave me one last chance to try local food, and I wasn't disappointed. I tried Tortello Lucchese al Ragu the previous day, which instantly lifted the mood with a rich, meaty taste and a hint of herbs.
When I ordered the second night, I opted for a dish like sheets of pasta topped with a white ragu, which didn't have tomatoes but tasted just as good.
The power went off again at night, and the host was apologetic about the situation, but I was asleep the second time around. Leaving this morning with a Parkrun to find and participate in was a bit hectic.
Many English tourists went with the same intention as me, and it was lovely to have a conversation in English, and they were all happy to be there.
It was a quick course on an excellent surface for running on, with fantastic views and, just as importantly, a smashed 5k personal best. I was leaving Lucca on good terms, albeit a little sweaty, but it was time to move on to Verona and mark the end of my trip to Italy. I move through Germany and Belgium on Monday before returning to the UK on Tuesday.
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