Almost since the inception of my business in 2009 my website as been supported by another ex-Bupa colleague Tina Bykowski , who at my request has kindly made urgent changes in the middle of the night, and of her own volition checks almost daily to ensure that my Blogs maximise their SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) potential.
Last year she even stayed up all night moving my files to another server after I got hacked by some group who send me a message in a form of Arabic and evidently thought that my home page would look better with scimitar knives marching across it!
Not a nice thing to do boys- I mean you no harm – Yalla I have been told means “let’s get on with it ” in Arabic – which is not a bad motto for me!
So now each year in lieu of a large bill I give Tina a large holiday – staying in my apartment in Florence we have fun discovering Florence and environs together .
This year we visited Siena on the bus – going down to the Piazza dal Campo for lunch but back up a steep hill to the Duomo and down steep steps to the Baptistery and back up the hill to the bus stop – and this was just for starters – getting Tina used to the idea of a week of intensive training – something that she certainly hadn’t signed up for as part of her holiday plans!
We also took a bus to Fiesole and climbed the hill to the Franciscan Monastery at the top of the town – then the muscles really began to complain – the far off vista behind Tina is Florence – the last part of our climb practically vertical ……… I think she looks pretty cheerful considering……….maybe breathing a bit deeply?
And not even a bar at the top to console her!
Not satisfied with these two climbs we visited Forte Belvedere – the highest vantage point in Florence !
The walk up the hill from San Niccolo is already a bit of a schlep which taxes the back of your legs – but then you hit the castle entrance – a serious series of steeply sloping steps ascending to a small doorway at the top – Abandon Hope all Ye Who Enter Here? Having come all this way it is too late to turn back now!
Tina graciously told me that the view at the top was well worth the effort – and it really is spectacular – 360 degrees of amazing views over the City – rather important when the Fortress was used for defence purposes by unpopular Grand Dukes of Florence!
And this time there was a bar there to provide sustenance for the descent!
Continuing our healthy living theme – even the Florentine food is healthy. Essentially nothing is cooked in animal fat – just extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and lots of lean meat with vegetables – I was giving Champneys a run for its money on the healthy living front – various lovely meals across the City, including my favourite restaurants Dino’s , Santo Bevitore, Dilandarno and Trattoria San Lorenzo (the latter shown below with waiters Franco and Giovanni)
We ate out – very well – nearly every night – and this particular night having been to a concert beforehand were even the last to leave!
Our night at Dino’s involved a huge meal and lots of excitement for Barney -my friend Kath’s pomeranian dog who has been featured on these blogs before – he was on particularly good form that night and I don’t think there was a person in the restaurant from whom he didn’t secure a pat and a compliment – and heaven help his little tummy – a titbit!
Some healthy meal examples below
Followed, naturally, by some very justly deserved desserts!
Returning to the theme of Concerts – we managed to fit in three, One with a group of Australian Singers at the premises of Art Viva, and the following night we had the great pleasure of aperitivi with the same Australian singers invited to perform from an apartment terrace overlooking this beautiful view of the Palazzo Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria.
On Tina’s final night we went to St Mark’s English Church to enjoy a performance of Puccini’s Tosca
We also visited the beautiful – and very large – gardens of La Pietra on Via Bolognese just outside Florence – a pleasure to see in the sunshine and a good long walk too . No day is complete without a good workout of those muscles you had forgotten you had?
And of course everyone who comes to Florence has to rub the nose of the Porcellino – just to make sure that they come back to Florence very soon.
You are very welcome back Tina –
Yours truly
The Stairmaster!
Tina’s business can be found on www.BBTWebmasters.co.uk
I am not sure that any part of my body below my waist would agree. The views were spectacular. I just need to start training now to cope with next year. A fantastic place to soak up the food, wine and culture that is Tuscany. If you have never been to Florence then you should let Penny show you around. She is not a tour guide but has a passion for Florence which is infectious and a knowledge of the city which is amazing. I would highly recommend it.
Thanks Tina – I will try to keep us on the flat river basin next year if you prefer – but as you say the views were spectacular – and hopefully worth the effort!