La Bella Vita

I’ve stayed in some pretty luxurious hotels but the St Regis in Florence is something else again. The room is beautiful, overlooking the Arno, with a bed fit for royalty, but it’s the service that is the next level experience. I have a butler, who will pack, unpack, iron each day and brings a drink of choice every morning when I send a message - coffee in bed on a silver tray with a little cake and a flower. So fun. The bar sabers a bottle of champagne each night and a drink and snacks are part of the deal, all in a beautiful room with a piano player. The head server sings along with the piano from time to time, and wanders the room chatting to the guests. He’s a born and bred Florentine, really interesting to talk to. I feel pampered and spoilt and had ball the first evening without even leaving the hotel. 

Breakfast was a beautifully laid out buffet. I tried a few of fancy juices (the spinach and mint one was challenging but I got it down) but stuck to fruit and yogurt for food choices, saving myself for pasta later in the day. There are staff everywhere ready to help - three guys at the entrance to push the revolving door for you (it’s not that heavy...). 

I spent the morning wandering the city looking at beautiful things - a decorated pot for my front garden made by a four generation family business, a little diamond pendant from a jeweller on the Ponte Vecchio, a wooden inlay box, perfume from the oldest pharmacy in Italy (1612). I bought nothing, but loved revelling in the possibility of purchase. Lunch was at a little trattoria- pasta with a white wine sauce, caramelised onion and bacon. Delicious, and well worth the restraint at breakfast. Perhaps it was the wine at lunchtime, perhaps just jet lag, I couldn’t stop yawning and so indulged myself with a little afternoon nap that lasted till dinner time. Opting for fresh air, I sat at an outdoor cafe in the piazza, still dozy, people watching and reflecting on my experience so far. Such a lovely day, ticking all the boxes for contentment- life’s pleasures in moderation, new experiences and a little bit of self care. I’ve included a photo of the view from my room, the walls in perfume shop - a Dominican monastery and the library in my hotel