Firenze e la macchina

Italians, it would seem, are much more restrained than we are about Christmas. There are no lights anywhere here yet, no switching-on ceremonies, and no crowds crushing each other to watch X-factor runners-up (for those interested, in the Italian version she was called Giusy (!)). But we did hear our first Christmas song in the supermarket the other day and panettone have arrived in numbers on the shelves.
Anyway, I'm not supposed to be writing about Christmas (Rachel will tell me I ramble too much now...). I'm supposed to be writing about Florence, where we have been for the last two days. Florence felt very Christmasey - hence the connection. They had window displays there and lights ready to go. It was cold but clear and, mercifully, empty of tourists. So we got a cheap hotel and we ate, even if it was odd Tuscan food (stale bread as far the eye can see!).


We didn't go to the Uffizi this time, but even the scaffolding outside is a work of art. I'm sure Sig. Botticelli would approve:


We weren't the only ones who were cold. This little fellow was quite put-out and distinctly unimpressed by the old bridge:


And, just because: