DAY 9 OF OUR CRUISE

Today up early at 6, off to breakfast at 6.30 and then on to a coach at 7.45. We are in Livorno and enormous port the second largest in Italy and just a bit bigger than Brixham.

On the way to Florence we stopped at a leather outlet which we expected to be cheap; nothing cheap in Italy I can tell you. They were mainly designer names and if I tell you belts were 100 Euros plus!

A replica of Michelangelo’s David in the Piazza Della Signoria which overlooks the town of Florence.

The most stylish sidecar I have ever seen Just oozes Italian design doesn’t it?

Florence was beautiful but far too crowded I expect because it was a Sunday.

Cheaper bags in the market but not much. Silly prices.

We only had 90 minutes to walk around which gave us a taster of the town, Lots more statues and very old buildings.

Perseus holding Medusa's severed head- gruesome!

We walked over the Ponte vecchia where I took photos of the corridor running from one side of the river to the other offering privacy to the Medici’s in years past.

Pretty gardens down by the river

Back to the boat for a late lunch, Mike has taken his book on deck & I am here, in bed, typing up the diary.

Lazy afternoon by the pool, cocktails before dinner, then, after the theatre a walk on deck to see the midnight buffet being laid out. Amazing. Carved fruit and veg in intricate patterns and ice sculptures of swans etc.

More food than you can think of, but not for us. We toddled off to bed.