A very civilised 9am start! The first sleep in I've had in a while, and I didn't even feel guilty about it!

I shot out and got some bread, and we had eggs on toast for breakfast. Delicious!

Today's itinerary was pretty simple. Walk to the best view in town - Piazzale MichaelAngelo. Walk to lunch at the Mercato Centrale. And Walk home. The weather was divine!

Off we marched to the Piazzale MichaelAngelo. It wasn't too far, only about 2.5kms. The path we took was filled with interesting things to see all the way. Little coffee shops, furniture repair shops, real estate agencies, gelaterias, bars and restaurants.

We crossed a bridge that gave us a great view of the Ponte Vecchio. Then through a medieval arch, and up the hill, alongside of the Boboli Gardens (I think!). The climb was mildly challenging for someone who is not all that fit, and really could do with some exercise. <insert rolled eyes here>.

It was also about 30 degrees. Which, actually, I didn't mind. The trees & earth smell different. I was getting some whiffs that reminded me of Turkey & the Middle East. The leaves are drying here now, and are a bit crunchy when you squash them. I find the heat oddly soothing.

Up the hill we trudged, it wasn't too far, and it was fun exploring the paths. Reaching the top was a treat, apart from some fabulously cold drinks, the view was spectacular!!!

You could literally see the whole of Florence, with all of the landmarks rising above the building line. There are no high-rise buildings, all are about 4 stories max, with the Duomo, the Uffizi and a couple of other churches standing out (one of them was the Vecchio something or other), plus the Ponte Vecchio. Just stunning.

After a jolly good look, we meandered back down the hill and fell face first into a gelateria. I know, I hear you thinking "MORE ICE CREAM???". Yes, more ice cream, and it was delicious! I've promised the kids ice cream every day, but it never stops them asking for another scoop later in the day!

On we marched, across the Ponte Vecchio, and across town to the Mercato Centrale. We didn't really know what to expect, so were surprised to find the leather market & the food market (both ingredients & restaurant shops).

It would have been great to buy a bunch of things, but you know, carrying them and all. Plus, apart from all of the promises of good price, friends discount, pretty lady discount etc, I expect we would have still paid more than we'd want to. (And I've secretly been watching the bank account slowly dip, and I'd really like to be able to eat when we get home. Bah humbug.). There were some nice bags though! We all splashed out on leather bracelets. Johnny must have visited every stand to find the perfect one.

We had a lovely lunch in the market, Spicy Lady burger (Johnny), Johnny Smash burger (Kieran), hot chips (Jess who is not feeling very well today), and Syd & I shared a margarita pizza. All delicious!

Then back on the road, to our accommodation. All the way along, we'd diverted and explored, dodged cars & bikes, and chatted as we passed the world by.

It was great fun! We had dinner at the apartment. Tortellini, with Mutti passata and bunch of other things thrown in. Love having the kitchen. Not sure what to cook tomoz though, as we'll need to use everything up. I have artichokes, proscuitto, gorgonzola & mozzarella fiori di latte (or something like that, it's a nice, creamy and very soft mozzarella ball). Maybe mashed spud & chicken schnitties.

Now, we've settled down in front of The Italian Job, and everyone is shouting at the TV "I've been there!!!" It's funny seeing the kids get excited about it.

We also had some new business ideas as we were walking.

• Me - the Hole in the Wall wine delivery system. It's great! And I wish we could do that in Melbourne. Also, the tuk tuks running through the streets everywhere (golf carts in Florence). We could call it "I Took a Tuk Tuk".
• Syd - a foot rub business, with food and beverages. Lol!! My feet are aching by the end of the day.
• Jess - an extension of Syd's business, she wants to start a Foot Rub Circle business. Hahaha!
• Johnny - he wants to start a Rope Taxi business in Venice. When you're tired, and can't find your hotel, you ring Johnny, he brings his rope, you all hold on to the rope, and he takes you back to your apartment, everyone holding on like a snake. I LOVE this idea!!! He thinks he's being silly, but I think it has merit!
• The Big Fella - I know you'll all be surprise to hear that he's still thinking on his ideas. He wants a passive income, and they're a little harder to think of. Let us know if you have any tips.

Need to get to bed early, we're heading to Pisa tomorrow!

14,000 steps.