Early Trains and Swiss Surprises

Today was a full-on travel day, with trains taking us from France to Switzerland to Italy. We left our hotel in Strasbourg early and dragged our bags back through the cobbled streets to the station for our 8:50am train to Basel. When we arrived, we spotted an earlier train leaving in just a few minutes, so we jumped on that one instead. Easy!

The ride was peaceful – all green paddocks, goats, and a subtle but noticeable shift in architecture as we approached the Swiss border.

Basel in a Dash

With a 90-minute layover in Basel, we decided to stash our bags in the (extremely efficient but eye-wateringly expensive) lockers and take a whirlwind stroll around the city.

The rain wasn’t ideal, but we made the most of it. We saw some beautiful architecture and public art, had a peek at the Rhine River, and stopped at a well-known café for a pastry – similar to the lune I had in Strasbourg, though I’m sure the Swiss would call it something completely different. Interestingly, they spoke German, which surprised me given how close we were to France – but of course, Germany is right there too!

Alps, Drinks, and a €20 Surprise

Our next train – from Basel to Milan – was Swiss-run but manned by Italian staff, one of whom strolled over, pointed at Craig and said “Birra”, then looked at me and said “Prosecco” – without any mention of price or charge. We figured it was part of the rail pass (since every provider does things differently), but no – he returned after we’d finished and handed us the bill. Just a casual €20. 😳

At least the views made up for it – the route through the Swiss Alps was stunning, even without snow. We passed waterfalls, forested mountains, and tiny Alpine farmhouses that looked like they belonged in a fairytale.

A Train Drama in Bologna

Once we reached Milan, we transferred to the Italian train, which was by far the best of the three – comfy seats, actual air-con, and a free drink and snack! Though the attendant did give us a bit of side-eye when we asked for latte with our caffè (classic tourists).

Unfortunately, the peaceful ride was interrupted by a spectacularly obnoxious man, who claimed to be a doctor from San Diego and completely gaslit the attendant over his missing seat ticket. If you have a Eurail pass, you still have to reserve a seat – something he was clearly dodging. She kept asking simple questions, and he just kept talking in circles, patronising her by saying things like “You Italians are very passionate”. It was so uncomfortable.

He was kicked off in Bologna. Good riddance.

Hello, Florence! Wine Doors and Warm Welcomes

We finally arrived in Florence at 6:00pm, with no further drama. It was still light out, so we walked the quick five minutes to our fun hotel in Santa Maria Novella. It’s not the fanciest part of town, but it’s super convenient for train arrivals and only a 10-minute walk to the Duomo.

We were welcomed with an Aperol Spritz, dropped our bags, freshened up, and headed straight out for dinner. On the way, we passed lots of the city’s famous wine doors and admired the beautiful buildings as the sun started to dip.

A Delicious Italian Welcome

I picked a restaurant with great Google reviews – and it did not disappoint.

The waiter was delighted with our attempts at ordering in Italian (very different to the French reaction…) and was full of personality, even singing around the restaurant as he served. When a seat opened up outside, he quickly moved us out to enjoy the evening air.

We over-ordered terribly: I had a starter of prosciutto, tomato and cheese, which was massive, and I had to pace myself so I wouldn’t ruin my main – the pomodoro pasta I’d been craving. Luckily, there was no pressure to clean the plate here!

Craig’s dish was the winner – ravioli with butter and a potato filling that was just to die for. So simple, but so, so good.

We practically rolled back to the hotel, completely stuffed, but very happy.

On Tomorrow’s Horizon…

It was such a perfect introduction to Florence, and we can’t wait to explore more tomorrow! It’s a free day, so we’re planning to do some shopping, see the sights, and maybe even visit Michelangelo’s David.

Ciao for now!

❤️ Laus