Making Memories in Italy!

End of July saw me and my fantastic kid Greyson travel to Italy, to at last celebrate their 21st birthday, which was back in September! It was also my birthday early August, and years since we’ve managed a holiday of more than a weekend abroad – so it really was a special time to explore three beautiful cities together, and make precious memories.

First Stop - Florence

We flew to Florence, then hopped on a tram right outside the airport (so cheap and efficient!) right into the centre, to find our lovely B+B. Hosted by Enrico, we were so well looked after. Comfy bed, wonderful breakfast, and he gave us lots of hints and tips for our stay.

We obviously visited the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella and had a guided tour of the fabulous Uffizi gallery. Amazing to see so many classical art paintings there and to learn more about them. There is such a wide variety of pieces here – you really could easily spend a full day there if you have the time.

We visited a fabulous food market and other gorgeous little independent shops too. We experienced the most incredible 800 year old perfumery store, as well as a stunning cinema bookshop. We even found a massage place called ‘Soulspace’! Greyson also found the most beautiful church here which I couldn’t really capture in my photos – it was just stunning.

Greyson arranged a photoshoot at the stunning area of Piazzale Michelangelo, as a treat for my birthday so we could have some nice photos together (as I’m always taking them so am rarely in any!). The view from here is just wonderful – you can see right across the city and we went as the sun was starting to set, so it was magical.

On our last day in Florence, we got a bus into beautiful Fiesole, and visited the fabulous archaeological museum, amphitheatre and ruins there. Saw the viewpoint at Villa Medici, visited a beautiful cathedral and other stunning buildings. We found a fabulous mini artwork vending machine in a little craft shop, and a black and white photobooth to take some silly photos! We had a really wonderful 3 days and 3 nights here together and packed a lot in!

Next Stop - Lucca

We took a train from Florence to Lucca to cut down on the travel costs, and we’re so glad we did. Tickets are so cheap there, the trains are ultra clean, there is conductors on board for any issues, and they always depart one minute before schedule! If only our service here in London was as good! Lucca is beautiful, and has a much more relaxed vibe than Florence, but is just as stunning.

Here, we stayed in a lovely self-catering apartment, so we got a big bedroom each, a lovely bathroom and a little open plan lounge and kitchen area too. We had a meal out the night we arrived, but then Greyson kindly cooked me two lovely meals the next two evenings, and we really enjoyed time ‘at home’, just playing cards, chatting away and sharing snacks and wine!

We had a much needed lazy morning our first morning there, then we went to a stunning Photography exhibition, and just explored more of the city – Lucca is such a lovely relaxed place to just meander and enjoy.

In the afternoon we visited the beautiful Palazzo Planner House and Garden, followed by the main cathedral there and lots of other stunning buildings and monuments.

We found a lovely silver ring in one of the gorgeous little independent jewellers there which Greyson loved, so I bought it for their upcoming 22nd birthday this September! We went to a fab clothes market, then hired one of the ‘Ride the Walls’ bicycletes, cycling all around the city walls with fabulous views, which was really fun! Greyson took charge of the steering too!

We really did love our time in Lucca and didn’t want to leave. Little did we know at that point that the best was yet to come…

Last Stop - Siena

Oh Siena! What a beautiful, majestic city this was, and the last stop on our little self-made Italy tour! We both fell in love with it from the moment we arrived. If it’s not on your list yet – add it! We’d go back in a heartbeat. The history and the buildings just seem to envelope you here…and we stayed in a lovely hotel with a beautiful room, and the best view we could have asked for from our little balcony.

Greyson wanted an authentic Italian pizza as we’d not had that yet, so that was our first stop after we’d got in off the train and checked in! After that we just wandered into the main square (well it’s a circle actually!) and we lucked out completely, as there was a fantastic free classical music concert just about to start right on the stage there!

We got ourselves a lovely seat at the front of one of the outside bars, overlooking the stage, and we just sat with our wine listening to the most incredible musicians. It was quite emotional, and this was our favourite night of the whole holiday – it was just magical…one of those evenings you just don’t want to end.

The next day we had a lazy morning playing cards in the hotels gorgeous garden. Then we visited all the main museums and churches here, and walked around all the little local shops. In the evening we found a fabulous sushi buffet restaurant right by our hotel and we loved that.

The next day we had a brilliant half day Chianti tour, visiting two independent vineyards for wine tasting. Greyson bought a lovely bottle of Rose in the first one to bring back to our hotel. We learnt a lot about the process of wine making from the hosts, we chatted to other lovely visitors, and just had a wonderful time driving through the Tuscan countryside.

They took us to visit Castellina in Chianti village, and then the stunning Monteriggioni walled village (we would have liked longer there – it was just beautiful). We came home, drank our Rose and had a few snacks whilst playing cards in the hotel garden, then went out for the sushi buffet again later as it was so good!

We saw so many beautiful buildings in Siena – everywhere you go is a photograph - it is a place that feels like it just wraps you up in history, as you wander around the city. The mixture of archways everywhere, tall impressive buildings and stunning architecture, is just a joy to folk that like taking photos like me!

On our last day in Siena, we went to the huge Wednesday market and then found a fabulous rooftop bar with beautiful views across the city, where we had a couple of beers and yummy fig cake! Then we found the stunningly peaceful Fontebranda water place, and then as it was our last night we went out for a lovely steak dinner!

Then much to our surprise, there was another free concert in the main arena going on – a Tina Turner tribute this time – which was great! Everyone was rocking! We were SO very sad to leave, but also so incredibly grateful for it all. We never get bored of Italy – it really is the most beautiful country. Precious memories made together, to last a lifetime.

Brighton Pride

Greyson had to go back to Leeds when we got back from holiday, but a few days later, they came back down again with their lovely partner Mags, and we all headed off to Brighton Pride on 1st August! They had bought me a ticket for my birthday, and we all had the best day together. One of their lovely friends from Leeds joined us too, and we met other friends from Ewhurst there as well. Raye was the headline act, and she was utterly incredible. We also got to see Jessie J, Self Esteem, G Flip, and RuPaul and Bimini on the decks! I actually drove us there and back to avoid the crowds on the trains, which worked really well. We followed this with a nice relaxed picnic at Newlands Corner and an ice cream in Shere on the Sunday, before Mags and their friend had to head home on Monday.

My Birthday

Grey stayed with a friend Monday and Tuesday after Pride weekend, while I was back to work with clients, then I picked them up again, and we had a lovely meal on Tuesday evening at The Chalk Hare (highly recommend it!) at Boxhill with my family. Then on the Thursday my lovely sister took me to a Candlelit Motown event at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, and then on the Friday a group of friends and I went to a brilliant drag night at The Fallen Angel in Guildford too.