Back to the ship-eventually

Happily seated back on our bus in Florence and ready for the 90 minute trip back to the Emerald Princess we found out we would be making a stop at a Leather Store on the outskirts of town. Oh, Hooray...first gold shopping and now leather, neither of which we were in desperate need of.

We roll with the punches and when we heard there were toilets there we thought it would be a good pit-stop.

We stopped for 30 minute or so, used the toilets, enjoyed cold Cokes from a vending machine and stretched our legs. Then we were back on the bus and heading to Livorno. I didn't see much shopping going on.

Of course I have to take photos as we drive along. I want to see all of Italy not just the famous statues and paintings. Here we go through a Toll Booth on the highway/Autostrada

Someday we'll get off the highway and explore the villages and vineyards over those hills. We could have rented a car in Livorno but it was important on our first visit to Tuscany to see Florence.

Carol is enjoying the ride

 The good news is that the guide doesn't narrate the journey back to the ship so people are free to chat or to sleep or to take photos

 We reach the vast container park on the outskirts of Livorno so we'll soon be at the docks

And here we are!

The bus lets us off, we tip our guide and driver and enter the Cruise Terminal

You'll notice that the signs are in English

There is a line to get on the ship as several tour buses returned at the same time

The Emerald will soon be leaving for Genoa