Farewell, farewell sweet holiday, its back to work to pay for the next one.

Lazy day today, mostly just wandering around, the sun shone and the sky was blue, for about 45 minutes anyway.

Not often you see an angel worried about the time. To the Louvre again today for several happy hours.

Early start no line.

The trip to Paris went very smoothly until the end. I was to meet my transport to town at exit E. When I got there a fire-engine arrived with quite a lot of police and moved us all away. They taped the area off and I was torn between staying as close as possible to find the shuttle to the hotel and staying as far away as possible because I`ve got to say it didn`t look good. A terrible traffic jam developed and there were a large number of us just standing around. One of the waiting taxi drivers said it was caused by left luggage and sure enough after 20 mins there was a loud bang and presumably someones jammies and undies were blown sky high. The day was uneventful after that except for the odd sensation od driving on the wrong side of the road to the hotel.

Today a quick trip to Bologna to see the newly re-opened Archaeological Museum. The main square is very handsome although the cathedral has a curiously unfinished appearance. The museum has some very interesting New Kingdom stuff and the usual Greek vases along with Etruscan funerary material and Roman relics. Its somewhat oddly arranged, half new modern cases, well lit and displayed, half dreadful old, dim wooden cases its difficult to see into. I had a great lunch there and did have the whortle berries although not the ostrich. Tomorrow. all being well, its off to Paris and on Wednesday starting the long trek home to arrive on Friday.

Me in the Gardens.

Hi Richard, the cats are for you, Spot there was a huge chunk of a cat but the rest were more normal.

Yesterday I did the San Marco Museum for Fra Angelico's frescoes and the Archaeological Museum for the usual. I can't give you photos of all as they are not allowed but again I have the book! But only if you are interested.
Today, a beautiful sunny but not warm day I went to the Pitti Palace(no photos) and the Boboli Gardens. They are above Florence and have some spectacular views, also some cats.

I'm just about out of time, they don't allow cameras in the Bargello so you will have to look at the book when I get back, Chris I have no Idea what the neon sign artwork was supposed to be, Linda re the 27th , is that still on, who are you expecting?

Some of the things around, the very narrow streets so you need an umbrella in the wet to establish your space, the cloisters at St Maria in Croce and a dim (no flash) fresco from there, scenery down by the river and their cake of a Cathedral. Hey, I'm getting comments as I write . Hi guys, the river is very muddy.

Tuesday was wet and here you have what fashionable dogs are wearing as rain gear, an unexpected glimpse in the gloom of someones interior in a quite ordinary building, my umbrella which I used to fend of everyone elses' umbrella, my room with the terrace I haven't used yet and what you prob wouldn't wear when its wet.

Florence is lovely but very wet also they too have a policy of not letting you upload pics. I went to the Bargello museum today which was amazing. The sculpture, majolica and ivories there, all set in a Renaissance palace were completely wonderful. What must it have been like to live surrounded by objects of outstanding artistic merit, did it all get appreciated or did familiarity breed blindness? There were school excursions there acting exactly like Australian students despite the much higher quality of the exhibits. I have been wandering around just appreciating it all.

No pics today, all day travelling. Train to airport, plane to Cologne, wait, then plane to Pisa then train to Florence. Started at 5.00 in the morning and arrived at 7.00 at night. Only about 2 hours and 10 mins actually flying, most of the rest hangin about with an hour on the train at the end, surprisingly tiring.

Sorry Chris, I skipped the car museums and went to the Art Gallery. It has a wide range of periods on show and a special exhibition with Picasso and other terribly well known modern artists. It was a very impressive show but you couldn`t take pictures. I did get this one.

These below are poor quality shots of postcards, don´t bother to click on them the quality won`t stand it, they are just to give you an idea.

Leipzig is a very lively town with an enormous amount of building and other activities but not on sunday. Its terribly quiet today just the restaurants and museums open. The hotel has a free internet machine in the foyer which makes it easier to keep in touch.

Two small museums today both uni of Leipzig but with some nice things.