Europe 1975 Florence to London

 The Duomo in Florence.

 The towers of Florence.

Neptune Fountain (one of many in Florence).

Courtyard of San Marco Church.

 The Eiffel Tower.

 Notre Dame Cathedral.

 The Arche de Triomphe.

 Big Ben of the Parliament Buildings.

 Westminister Abbey.

The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.

We found Florence to be more walkable as the city centre is more compact and everything is easily walked. We loved the squares, churches, statues and museums, including Michelangelo's David in the Accamdemia Gallery.

I also remember that Kathy and I visited a few souvenir shops here and inadvertently left out small backpack/satchel which contained all of our important stuff, passports, money and correspondence. We didn't miss it until a couple of shops later, and then in a panic retraced our steps and found to our delight and amazement that the proprietor of a shop where we had spent some time talking to him, had merely covered it with a large woven hat knowing that we would be back soon! Catastrophe averted.

Our next stop was by train to Paris. We had to camp a long ways out of the city and take trains into the centre, but we enjoyed walked along the Seine, climbing the Eiffel Tower, crossing the traffic to get to the Arc de Triomphe and having a tour of Notre Dame. It is such a shame that the cathedral under went that fire recently.

Then it was time to take the ferry back to London where we spent our last few days buying souvenirs, visiting St. Paul's and the Tower of London before our return flight to Canada. I remember London as being grey and dirty with most of the buildings encased in coal soot.

When we got home I entered the first year of the three year Radio and Television degree program at Ryerson University in Toronto. Sadly this was to be Kathy and my last trip together, two summers across Canada and one of a classical tour of Europe.