Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink except acqua minerale gas or no gas

Hello fun seekers I am writing this from Florence after a 10 mile day of hiking, walking and dragging our old bodies through the streets of Florence. Add to this we just had a beer waiting for the restaurants to open at 7:00 pm and a 1/2 liter of vino Della casa rosa to sooth Our aching joints. We had a nice time in Venice and saw the biggies there, notably St. Marks and everything on the southern portion of Venice. We have seen some beautiful sights and it is hard to believe that Venice is a water borne society. i can visit but could never live here as it is too foreign to everything we know. But incredible sights nevertheless. Getting a hotel on Lido island south of Venice turned out to be a great idea as this is Spring break and is almost as crowded we are told as the high season of July/August. Lido island is very laid back and although there are people, it is mostly locals and not as crazy as Venice. We were in Venice 2 nights and walked all over the island, literally from the southern portion all of the way to the tip of the island at the train station. We were staying at the Hotel Pannonia on Lido and it is a recently refurbished 4 star hotel with very nice king sized beds and a good breakfast. All of this at there spring special rate of 70 euros a night; very nice! We woke up in the morning checked out and took the water taxi to the St. lucia train station for our journey to the cradle of the renaissance, Florence. Lucked out and got our train to Florence, leaving in 20 minutes from the time we arrived. We have a Eurorail pass, but on most rides you have to reserve a seat for an additional cost. We said goodby to Venice and hurled at 200 kilometers per hour towards Florence. Arrived in Florence and exited the train station and followed the google map I had printed out; found the hotel on the first try; the Hotel Consigli' right on the north bank of the Arno river. Didn't get the room overlooking the river and instead got the back of the hotel;not so nice but adequate. We are on the second floor and have the king sized bed in a very large room. Walk out the room, turn left and you have your very own patio overlooking the Arno river; quite nice. We are about a 15 minute walk to pretty much everything Florence has to offer. Got up this morning determined to make the best of our time in Florence. Struck out after breakfast to purchase the elusive All Florence pass that allows you for 50 euros each to bypass all of the lines and enter 50 different museums or exhibitions, etc. we march back to the train station where the largest Tourist information booth is located only to find out that they are sold out. Undaunted we march down to the Palazio Strozzi where we are told they will have the now endangered Florence pass, but alas, this prey has alluded us once again; sac're bleu! Once more into the fray we continue our march another 1/4 mile to the Pallazo Vecchio, and we bag the now near extinct, Florence card. After waiting in line to purchase this illusive beast we are told we must go to another line to activate it. Monday, several of the big museums are closed, no problem, we will see the smaller ones today and the rest tomorrow. The Florence pass also gives you unlimited access to the bus system but, sorry they don't have the bus schedule where you buy the pass, you must walk all the way back to the first place we tried to purchase the pass to the Train station. I guess we really don't need the "stinking bus" schedule after all. Walked over the Ponte Vecchio bridge and plunged into the Easter break mass of people and kids on tour where Terri purchased some gold ear rings and a Bella purse from the the vendors close to the bridge. I was able to buy a sweet leather belt to hold up my now very baggy pants. more proof that God is a man because I walk around the block and lose a pound, Terri walks 20 miles and gains a pound, totally unfair. I eat 2 scoups of gelato, Terri eats 2 bites and gains. Really sucks. We hit Galileo museum where a lot of his scientific ideas and devices are stored, we saw the Palacio Vecchio where the Medici family castle is, and of course, the Duomo of Florence, a beautiful example of renaissance architecture. Florence seems to have more churches than you can shake a stick at. We ducked into several, and they are all incredible. We have to say that the Duomo is wonderfully from the outside and the dome is a magnificent feat of workmanship but the Milan Duomo is much more interesting from a detail side. We stopped a few times to rest our tired dogs at restaurants for lunch and finally for dinner. Left this morning at 9:00 Nd arrived back at the hotel around 8:00 pm. Long day but rewarding. Tomorrow the David. As the ItLians say when they end a telephone conversation,,, ciao, ciao, ciao.