Monday 22nd August

Our last day in Italy. We didn't have to check out until 12 so made the most of our morning by going up to the top of the Cathedral dome. We got there when it opened at 8.30. One advantage of this is that there is no-one trying to get down while you are going up. Most of the time there is one way up and a different way down but sometimes it is two-way and you have to wait for a gap.

It is a big climb with strong warnings at the bottom not to attempt it if you have heart problems. On the way to the roof you go inside the dome and get a good view of the day of judgement fresco.

Then up some more steps until you are right at the top with a view of the whole of Florence and beyond.

Just to prove we all made it to the top

After picking up our luggage we went to the food market where they had a cafe. Si and Will sampled the local delicacy - tripe. The journey back was easy changed at Milan and then to Lausanne where we got our final train, a local one to Nyon where Nick met us.