March 06, 2011

Photo essay: Fall 2010 travels - A transfer in Florence

This is the second part of a series of posts on my fall travels in 2010 to several cities in Europe. The first part was my iPhone cache of photos. Here we leave YYZ and arrive in FLR, after a bit of an adventure in BRU. (Will we make our transfer, or won't we?)

Bye-bye Pearson!



Transfer at Brussels airport - do not recommend! Although it is a very luxe airport, the transfer protocol is ridiculous. Numerous passengers were seen racing through the lounge to catch their flight after a ridiculously tedious 1+ hour transfer point.  The BRU slogan is "European, efficient and welcoming." I agree with the European part, but that's about it.

To add insult to injury, Brussels did not transfer luggage for numerous passengers. At the minuscule FLR airport: No luggage for both of us! And Brussels Airlines only compensated one of us for two days, despite our three days without luggage and numerous attempts for appropriate compensation. 2+ months later. Never again, Brussels Airline.

I really wanted to go into Luisa via Roma in Florence after months of ogling their website, but since we had no luggage to carry any purchases for who-knows-how-long, I couldn't buy anything except essentials. (Which meant no Luisa via Roma. sigh.)

I believe this is the San Lorenzo market for leather goods in Florence. Great for photography, so much colour crammed into small spaces!

Venetian masks in the San Lorenzo market

The fake statue of David in Piazza della Signoria. The real one is smaller and found in the Accademia Gallery.

Juxtaposition of mural and graffiti in a Florence alleyway. (I was looking for a public paid washroom. Recommend - they are relatively clean since you have to pay to use them.)

Pretty typical laneway view in Florence.

Another common sight in Florence. Rows of motorbikes and scooters.


Map of Florence

Not the Pusateri's I know! This one sells boots. (As opposed to the fine foodstuff in Toronto.)

Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. We are leaving after half a day of hoping to get our luggage "on the next flight". Our only solace is that we get to see more of Florence, a city that I adore!

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...