Deadline: Frankfurt, Germany

Aimless Tours: Destination Florence is coming to a close. It’s our last day and Kathy and Joe, and Rosey and I are heading home. It been quite a trip and the memories will last a lifetime. But, like most days on this adventure, the way it’s unfolding is nothing like how we planned it.

Last night we celebrated at “our” local restaurant which was literally only a few feet from the door to our flat. Fortunately, it just happens to be one of the best in Florence – in our humble opinion. A local place where the police come in to take food out, and the real locals are seated behind the kitchen with the football game on a small screen TV.

The plan for the evening was to finish any remaining food and adult beverages still in the flat either before or after dinner. A bottle of Chanti Classico was discovered on the table, plus a large bottle of beer in the frig. As is the rule in our neighborhood in Atascadero, beer first, wine second. Rule observed. After dinner (and a second bottle of wine), another bottle of Chanti Classico was found near a suitcase. Perhaps someone intended to bring it back to the States. Oh well, it just makes your suitcase heavy. It was then time for canolli from Grilli Café and grappa from the super market. Grilli Café was founded in 1736. Quite a place…so Italian!

Kathy and Joe had a 7 AM departure and had arranged for a driver to take them to the airport at 4:45 AM. So at 4 AM we were all up trying to decide if it was just a late night or actually morning. They left the flat on time and headed to the airport in torrential rain. A weather hangover from the historic hail storm yesterday. About 45 minutes later I receive a text from Joe: "Air France on strike. Flight cancelled". Dang, we could have partied longer!

Rosey’s and my flight was not until 10 AM so we had arranged to go to the airport later in the morning. No problems getting there, but when checked-in, the agent at the counter said, “Mrs. Parks, you are going to San Francisco. Mr. Parks, you are going to Zurich?” It was definitely an “oh shit” moment. After a few minutes of discussion, the problem was uncovered. Our itinerary was Florence to Zurich on Swiss, Zurich to Frankfurt, on Lufthansa, and finally Frankfurt to San Francisco on United. But, the Florence to Zurich flight was overbooked and Swiss was making us an offer to bypass Zurich and fly directly to Frankfurt. Plus compensate for the “inconvenience.” Deal done. I’m writing this from the Lufthansa First Class lounge in Frankfurt. Oh ya, I’m loving this part of the “inconvenience”.

Back to Kathy and Joe. With the Air France strike, everything on Delta and the few remaining Air France flights were fully booked. They too were made an offer. Stay in Florence one more day, hotel and meals courtesy of Air France, and fly home tomorrow (Sunday). Deal done for them too. They are now staying in a hotel almost on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Plus, one less flight for them too.

We’re not home yet. But, we’re working on it in true Aimless Tours fashion.

Tomorrow’s Post – The Epilogue