AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He was really serious about getting in these queues early, wasn’t he? At least the weather was good. The skies were blue and there was only a slight chill in the air. To be expected at this time of the morning. When I’d checked the weather forecast, it said it might get as high as sixteen degrees later, which Lorenzo said was warm for the beginning of March.
We approached the Palazzo Vecchio. With its grand tower and Michelangelo’s David statue (aka the naked guy) outside, I recognised it instantly as one of the most famous sights in Florence. We’d probably be going to the museum. Made sense. Couldn’t do the whole Florence tourist trail and not see this.
But hold on…
We didn’t join the queue. Instead we walked past the entrance and the statue, down the side of the building. Where were we going?
Lorenzo held my hand tightly as he led me down a narrow street with an arched entrance and then stopped outside a building:
Authentic Tours
Huh? I thought Lorenzo would know Florence, orFirenzeas the Italians call it, like the back of his hand, so why did we need a tour guide?
As we entered the building, there was a Vespa in the colours of the Italian flag parked inside to the left and a vintage Fiat car to the right. We approached the lady standing in front of the computer towards the back. Whilst I checked out the souvenirs and T-shirts on the wall, Lorenzo chatted to the woman and handed over what looked like some documents.
‘Pronta?’ he asked me. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Sì,’ I replied. I followed Lorenzo and the lady as she led us out the back.
What?
No way!
As we walked out the door at the rear of the building and onto the street, there was a whole row of vintage Vespas lined up. One, two, three, four…there must have been about eight of them.
‘So…as you may have guessed,’ said Lorenzo, ‘we are going on a tour. But not a traditional tour by foot. We will go on a Vespa.’
‘That’s actually really cool!’ I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was also a little terrified. The idea of riding a Vespa in Italy did kind of freak me out, but I was sure Lorenzo would be up for driving. Then all I’d have to do was hold on tight. I could think of worse ways to spend the morning…
‘Glad you are happy with this idea.’
‘I am! I thought we were going to queue up to visit museums and all the landmarks.’
Lorenzo rolled his eyes.
‘Of course not!I know you. You have been toFirenzetwice before already and visit these places. And I also know that you do not really enjoy looking at art or these things. For you is not exciting. I promised this weekend we will have fun, so is exactly what we will do!’
I threw my arms around him.
‘You’re the best! Thank you!’
‘Ah, is nothing.’ He kissed me gently on the lips. ‘You deserve. I hope you enjoy.’
Lorenzo held me tight as our guide, Viola, briefed us on the safety procedures and how the Vespa worked and gave us our helmets. She would lead the tour and we’d follow behind. We even had a two-way radio to stay in contact.
At 9 a.m. sharp we were ready to go. Lorenzo sat at the front, gripping the handlebars, and I sat behind him. Then we were off!
We left Florence in a swarm of Vespas, heading along the riversides and tree-lined roads, climbing up and up, higher and higher into the Tuscan hills. Then we made our first stop.Wow. As we parked, we took in the amazing panoramic views of Florence beneath us, marvelling at the colourful rooftops and the iconic red dome of the cathedral in the distance. I may have been here twice, but I’d never seen the city like this before.
‘Want me to take your photo?’ asked Viola.
‘Yes please!’ I handed her my phone. Lorenzo and I posed in front of our Vespa, with the epic views as our backdrop.
The photos looked great.
After hopping back on to our bikes, Viola took us for a quick visit inside what was apparently one of Florence’s oldest churches, then we set off again, winding our way through some narrow streets.
The temperature had risen since we’d first arrived in the city earlier this morning. But as Lorenzo picked up speed and the breeze blew through my hair, it felt perfect. I wrapped my arms tighter around his waist and rested my chin on his back.
