North to Florence

Another big travel day, as we take two trains to get to Florence via Rome. A late start though, as the early trains were rather pricey. Vera is looking forward to a relaxing train ride after her 20,000 steps in Bari the previous day

We have time to pick up cheese, salami and bread from this deli, plus cherries from a fruttivengolo store, and a nice bottle of red. So we are well provisioned for what is supposed to be a six hour journey

All starts off well. We have our seats at a table, cheese, meat and wine are great, and the scenery is varied: flat farmland giving way to undulating fields, then mountain valleys as we head across to Naples and up towards Rome

But somewhere there is a troublesome level crossing, which brings the train to a halt. We only have 15 minutes to catch our connecting train at Rome’s main station, and this looks to be in danger. Not the end of the world, as my internet research tells me that Trenitalia will rebook us onto another train, but this sounds like hassle

The delay is forecast to be 15 to 20 minutes, tantalisingly close to the time available.

As we approach Rome, 20 minutes late, the onward train to Florence has still not left, and hopes rise. Only to be dashed as we wait another 10 minutes for a platform allocation and our next train heads north without us

We are 30 minutes late in the end, and go looking for the Customer Services desk.

Customer Service sends us back to the platforms, to find a red hut that will rebook our train. There is a red hut, but it only deals with local trains and not the long distance intercity routes. They tell us that we need to go to an office outside the station, in front of the fountain. No desk, no fountain, we are getting frustrated

Back to the original Customer Services, where we finally seem to make ourselves understood.

They issue tickets, but without the mandatory seat reservations. For these we need to see the train manager in coach three. The printed ticket contains written notes and an official stamp of authorisation.

There is no train manager on coach three, but he does eventually appear and provides approved seats

We finally arrive in Florence at 8:15pm, one and a half hours behind schedule

We trek across the city to our little flat, where there are some complex entry instructions. Ellie, who is managing the accommodation, is in a meeting and cannot be there to greet us. The street also has a bizarre numbering system. We are in number 4, but this just seems to be completely missing, the numbers going down to 24 and then suddenly up to 48.

But we have pictures and find the right place. Vera messages Ellie to say we’ve arrived. Ellie is supposed to remotely open the door, but nothing happens. The technology is not working. Eventually a random resident appears and Vera pleads to be allowed in. Surprisingly this works, and we can retrieve the flat key from its secret location. Journey complete. Just need food and refreshment

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