Chains, trains and automobiles

After a lot of research, we decided the best option for us to get a car here was via a Peugeot Open Europe lease. The only catch was the closest pickup location was Rome airport, 4 hours away by train (technically three trains since I had to go via Florence).

I decided to get the 5:30am train out of Siena on Monday morning to give me as much time as possible to get to Rome, fill in the paperwork, get the car and get back to Siena.

Fortunately, you can always get a coffee in Italy, even it’s from a vending machine.

The station was deserted, which made getting on the right train a bit of a leap of faith.

Fortunately, I did get the right train and after the sun came up a couple of hours later I was treated to some pretty spectacular scenery.

I got to Peugeot at about 10:30am, had a (surprisingly) short briefing on the car, and headed back to Siena.

I even got some rainbows.

I made it back home safely after a long day.

There had been snow forecast for Tuesday, but we’d had false alarms before so we didn’t think much of it. The day came and went without incident but by midday Wednesday it was snowing pretty heavily. We decided to walk to the local pizzeria for a cosy lunch.

By the time we finished lunch the snow was starting to build up. We were getting a bit concerned about being able to get the kids from school, especially with the new car which we didn’t really trust in the snow yet.

When we got to the school it was pandemonium. Everyone had made the same decision to collect their kids and the tiny (and hilly) parking area at the school was full of SUV drivers not used to the snow sliding all over the place trying not to collide with each other. It was at this moment that I realised we didn’t have snow chains (which we are required by law to carry at all times).

I managed to park the car on a level surface, get the kids and make it back down to the main road. Our normal route home has a section with a significant incline but when I came up to it I could see cars stuck halfway up, trying to avoid other cars sliding down towards them. I mentally planned another (less steep) route up the hill as the snowfall increased. We made it up and over and onto the freeway.

As we got closer to home I remembered that our house was at the top of a rise. I was pretty sure we weren’t going to make it up, so I started looking for somewhere to park the car. Pretty quickly I realised that lots of other people were coming to the same conclusion - there were cars ditched all over the place. Finally I found a spot about 1km from our place.

We left the car and started walking home (on an icy road with no footpath).

We made it!

By then it was pretty much total whiteout.

Eventually it eased enough for some snowman-building.

And some great views.

The next morning it was still snowing and the school called a snow day. I decided to go for a run to continue my Rocky IV fantasies.

I headed through the walnut grove and up the hill.

And then up the road to check on the car.

The whole area was pretty snowed in, and without chains we weren’t driving anywhere.

So we decided to go back to the pizzeria for lunch.

And then spent the rest of the afternoon tobogganing.

And building (somewhat tilted) snowmen.

PS We now have snow chains.

Balloons, barbers and bicycles

We had a free weekend so we decided to book a cheap hotel room for a night and head to Florence. The kids are getting good at defrosting the car.

We wandered around and went to a few places we’d read about, including Farmacia Santa Maria Novella - the oldest pharmacy in Europe.

And of course, the leather market.

When we were all thoroughly shopped out, we grabbed some handmade pasta at the Mercato di San Lorenzo.

Then we needed a walk and a playground visit to digest.

I had managed to make an appointment at a hipster barber in the middle of town, which was great.

Then we decided we need a gelato break at a super-cute little gelateria just across the river (although letting Hayley order coffee gelato at 4pm may not have been the best parenting decision).

On the way back into town we passed a salon with a particularly novel way of holding up their clients’ hair during a colour treatment.

We headed to our favourite only rooftop bar for a drink.

And to watch the sunset.

Then we had a great dinner and walked back to the hotel, while most locals were just heading out.

The next morning we woke up early and I managed to convince Hayley and Audrey to come with me for a pastry at the 24-hour(!) cafe around the corner. The spectacular sunrise was a nice surprise.

Everyone was happy hanging out in the hotel room so I decided to go for a run in the Parco delle Cascine.

And back past the river.

And back through the (deserted) city.

We all decided to head back to the park, where we found a playground with a great flying fox.

Next to the playground was a rollerblade and bike rental shop so we thought we’d see if we could teach Audrey to ride a bike well enough for us to ride around the park. The owner of the rental shop took it upon himself to show her what to do.

Within fifteen minutes she was flying.

Then it was lunch and walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo.

We took a couple of ten (ish) year challenge photos (we’ve changed a lot since 2007).

Then it was back home to get ready to go to Rome the next day to pick up our new car.