CombatCritic Q&A: Florence 1-Day Itinerary Feedback Please?

CombatCritic Q&A
One-Day Itinerary Feedback

Fairywren61 from Perth, Australia wrote:

Jul 18, 2015, 3:36 AM

We are staying in a villa between Florence and sienna and are travelling into Florence for the day. We want to enjoy the day and not be rushed, we enjoy walking and looking but also taking in some main areas. Here is my initial itinerary: 

San Lorenzo Market 

Piazza del Duomo (Climb to the top… possibly do the bell tower and baptistery 

Vivoli Gelato – Gelato 

Piazza Santa Croce – Eat Gelato here on stone benches, free entertainment and buskers 

Uffizi Gallery – undecided on this, not sure if we will be to rushed to really enjoy it 

Ponte Vecchio 

Any feed back would be appreciated.

———————————————————————————-

Well, Fairywren, here are my two cents worth:

San Lorenzo Market 

– The actual Mercato di San Lorenzo (the building) has dozens of food stalls, butchers, and other vendors, so you should at least see it, but the main reason to go there is to buy food. The streets around the nearby Basilica di San Lorenzo are filled with outdoor stalls selling Chinese (leather goods, “Murano” glass, etc) knock-offs if that’s what you are interested in. If you want to see a “real” market, I recommend Mercato San’Ambrogio east of the center and just northeast of Basilica di Santa Croce and its wonderful piazza which has now returned to its previous, uncluttered glory.

Piazza del Duomo (Climb to the top… possibly do the bell tower and baptistery 

– Climb away if your heart is up for it (463 steps to the top of the dome), but you will get better views from Piazzale Michelangelo, a short taxi or bus ride away … AND IT’S FREE! Instead, I would recommend visiting the cathedral (Duomo) itself which is also free. The entrance is through the north door of the front of the massive building with the line hugging the north side. The painting of the Apostles by Giorgo Vasari (16th C) on the inside of the dome with their legs dangling over the sides is one of my favorite frescoes in the world. Tickets are only needed to see the tower, dome, and the excavations below the Duomo.

Vivoli Gelato – Gelato 

– If you like expensive gelato, by all means!

Piazza Santa Croce – Eat Gelato here on stone benches, free entertainment and buskers

– I would recommend getting a gelato at half the price of places like Vivoli at Gelateria Il Gallo Ghiottone after having a cheap lunch at nearby Mercato San’Ambrogio’s small restaurant, then strolling to Santa Croce (5 minute walk). I’m not sure what entertainment or “buskers” you are referring to as I have spent a fair amount of time in Piazza Santa Croce and was never entertained other than by the droves of tourists. And there are a couple benches in the piazza, but good luck finding a seat. Sit on the steps of Santa Croce, taking-in the square and the tourists, but not during mid-day when the sun bakes the steps and anybody near them.

Uffizi Gallery – undecided on this, not sure if we will be to rushed to really enjoy it

– The Uffizi should not be missed if you are an art lover, particularly if you love Renaissance art, but you will need 2-3 hours at the very minimum.

Ponte Vecchio

– Don’t miss it and snap a few photos, but if you are buying jewelry, be prepared to spend more than you need to.

Buon Viaggio!

CombatCritic

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Title: CombatCritic Q&A: Florence 1-Day Itinerary Feedback Please?

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One Two, Buckle My "Brew"

One Two Café

Temple Road (Across from Dalai Lama Temple)

McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, HP, India 

Prices: $$$$$

I have to admit that I have not ordered a full meal here because it appears that is not their forté. The first time I visited One Two Café was for a quick bite to eat and a coffee while waiting for my Buddhist philosophy class upstairs. While enjoying my caffe latte and spinach quiche (more to follow), a friend of an employee brought in a meal (that looked like thenthuk) from another restaurant. Not a good sign, particularly considering that they have thenthuk on the menu.

However, my spinach quiche was quite large for the price (100 rupees/$1.60) and very good although the crust was a bit difficult to cut through and the filling not all that rich, both likely due to a lack of egg and cheese in the recipe. Still, it was very enjoyable and savory.

I have returned for their caffe latte, made from espresso on an Italian espresso machine, which is very well done and an outstanding value at 60 rupees (95 cents) for a regular and 90 rupees ($1.50) for a doppio (large).

If you want an excellent coffee, tea, or light snack while visiting the Dalai Lama’s Temple, then One Two Cafe is an excellent choice.

CombatCritic Gives One Two Café 7 Bombs Out Of 10 … BOMBS ARE GOOD!

Key Words: caffe, café, coffee, CombatCritic, dessert, Dharamsala, Dharamshala, food, Ganj, India, McLeod, McLeod Ganj, menu, one, One Two Café, quiche, restaurant, tea

CNN Says Obama’s "Latte" Salute Is Not An Issue … I DISAGREE!

On September 25, 2014, several CNN reporters alluded that President Obama’s “latte” salute released by the White House a day earlier was not an issue deserving much attention. I watched initial footage of the “salute” (and I use that term loosely), was appalled (not surprised) and still am. If you have not seen it, here it is …

The President of the United States is Commander-In-Chief of the United States Armed Forces and we in the military swear allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America and, ultimately, our commander-in-chief when we enlist for service. Those two United States Marines you saw smartly and professionally saluting our president as he disembarked Marine One are the “best of the best”, likely highly decorated combat veterans and deserving much more respect than President Obama was apparently willing to provide that day.

I have seen Obama’s half-assed attempts at saluting my comrades in arms on numerous occasions, but the latte salute was a new low, even for him. If he truly respected our men and women in uniform, he would take his obligation more seriously and dispose of garbage before boarding or departing Air Force One or Marine One. 

How difficult would it be to remember his duty to salute his brave and dedicated subordinates every time he gets on or off the plane or, in this case, the helicopter dedicated to his safe transport. Could one of those in his massive entourage not hold his coffee for two minutes while he performs his official duties and pays respect to these young men and women whom risk their lives every day to ensure his protection? The very least he could do is give them the smart, professional salute they so richly deserve.

CombaCritic Gives President Obama A Dismal 1 Bomb Out of 10 for Poor Leadership and His Lack of Support for Our Military and Veterans … More Bombs Are Better!

Key Words: Obama, CNN, Don Lemon, Don, lemon, president, commander-in-chief, commander, Marine, one, Air Force, TV, United States, Marines, PresiYdent Obama, salute, latte, coffee

FedEx "ONE RATE" Rated "DECEPTIVE" … Can You Say "BAIT AND SWITCH"?

FedEx “ONE RATE” Rated “DECEPTIVE” … Can You Say “BAIT AND SWITCH”?

1. FedEx Office Print & Ship Center
3. Address: 911 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044

   Phone:(785) 843-8019

   Prices:

   $$$$$

   Hours:

    

    M-F 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

   
   

First of all, the FedEx website is confusing and difficult to use. I have an account, but have to enter data over and over even after “saving” it. I recently created two shipments, one going and one return, using the same information, but when I got to the store realized that I was being charged an extra $2.31 for the return shipment even though it was being delivered to the same city it was being shipped from (Lawrence).

FedEx advertises “one low price” (“as low as $7.50”) for envelopes, but my envelopes cost $12+ and $14+ for a total of $26 … NOT $15! They state on their website:

“FedEx One Rate … Simple, flat rate shipping with the reliability of FedEx”

But their website is anything but “simple” and it is obviously not a “flat rate” because they charge different prices depending on where the envelope is going.

I asked about the price discrepancy at Kinkos, but was told “oh, that’s just the way it is” and was not offered a refund or new shipping labels at the cheaper “one rate”. Customer service at this location is sketchy with reps having little if any knowledge of FedEx processes or pricing. In-fact, the employee told me “next time, just come to the counter and we’ll take care of it for you”, but when I did just that a few weeks back I was told “go to the computer over there and print your own labels”. I then spent 30 minutes trying to navigate the website, re-enter “saved” information, and print the labels.

CombatCritic Gives FedEx Kinko’s (Lawrence, Kansas) 3 Bombs Out Of 10

Key Words: FedEx Kinko’s, fedEx, Kinko’s, Kinko, Fed, Ex, shipping, envelope, tracking, delivery, confirmation, shipment, OneRate, one, rate, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value