bentonthealps: Jun 13, 2011

Day 31 Sat 11/06 - Rest Day Visiting Florence

Today Disatnce : 19 km Total: 1428.8 km Today Temp : 20 - 25°c Today Spending : 14.5 euro Total: 473.28 euro Time on Bike : 2 hr 10 min Today Ave Speed: 14,5 kmh Max: 38 kmh Today Ave Climb:3% Max: 8% Trip Altitude :120 m Max: 118 m

Before I leave for this biking trip,my friend back in Malaysia who has visited Florence,told me that I should make a stop here,but short of telling me what are the attractions are. So I will know by today. Yesterday's 104 km ride still recovering from the tireness, I slept until 9 am and only able to start the city tour with Ivan/Annie at 11.30am. It is a very hot day,8km to the centro.Just like Pisa,Florence is separated by the same river Arno or " Fiume Arno " with at least 7-8 bridges connecting both sides, Here you won't find any big shopping complex,high rise buildings, what you see are those very old historicalbuildings,Thethers,Museums,Art Galleries and Human sculptures.So if you are a lover of arts,this is a place for you. Street musicians and artists can be seen at every corner.

Day 30 Fri 10/06 - Flat on a Busy road to Firenze( Florence )

Today Disatnce : 104 km Total: 1409.8 km Today Temp : 19 - 23°c Today Spending : 17 euro Total: 467.78 euro Time on Bike : 5 hr 22 min Today Ave Speed: 19.4 kmh Max: 52.5 kmh Today Ave Climb:3% Max: 13% Trip Altitude : 459 m Max: 118 m

Unknowingly we scored a century in distance from Pisa to Florence, we just ride and ride,passing thru so many small towns in between, so many roundabouts, some roads signs were not clear or missing, some towns that did not even appear on our map,so we had to ask around for direction,thanfully the italians are very helpful and friendly indeed.We are onroute SS67, an important lookout mark that we depends on eventhough we did not know or locate the towns on the map.Nothing much in term of good scenery except you see lots of houses,shops,restaurants and cars on the road, which runs parallel to another highway.The terrain turns a little rolling as we approaching a big city in Florence, but thats a long ride to find the Camping Internazionale Firenze , located on a hill slope some 8 km away from the centro.Ivan wanted to try out his newly bought tent, so we opted for a tent site instead of caravan or bangalows. But that does not means cheap. It cost 9 euro per person and 3 euro per tent.

Campsite in Firenze

Shellbox bungalows

Swimming Pool too cold for a dip

Washing and shower

Entrance to the campsite

Restaurant

Reception

Day 29 Thu 09/06 - Rest Day in Pisa Visiting the Leaning Tower

Today Disatnce : 7.9 km Total: 1305.8km Today Temp : 20 - 24°c Today Spending : 37.2 euro Total: 450.78 euro

A sunny good day just perfect for a ride to the town and visit the world famous Leaning Tower.It was a very short ride of only 1 km and we are already there and saw the Tower,many tourists already there and the side walk is really hard to cycle,so we get down push walking with our bikes. Souvernies shops selling T-shirts,key chains,begs etc..trying to attract the tourists.I bought a key chain for 1 euro for my friend who has a hobby on collection. The Tower is located at a square which was built in year 1173 and continued without interruption for 5 yrs but work stop at the 4th gallary for reason still unknown today.In year 1272,work resumed and in 1278,it reached the 7th cornice and there was another long pause.It was only in year 1360 that work start for several years.Asignificant correction was made to the angle of inclination at the base.Due to material decay and corrosion,147 pillars out of 180 had to be replaced, and the restoration partly fianance by EU was completed in 2010.