Tuscany Saturday 06 October 2012

I grab a taxi to the coach at 06:15 and bring it back to the hotel where there is room to park.
We load the cases at 07:00 in anticipation of an 08:00 departure. After the cases there is time for Brian and I to have some breakfast before leaving.
Milena comes in early today to say goodbye and once again this is much appreciated. She has been great all week and very helpful with anything we have asked for. I really like the Palace Hotel and would definitely come back again. The rooms are good if a little old fashioned and the public areas are plentiful and gorgeous. The staff (apart from the porter on arrival!) have been great and are always willing to help.
I had a little shock before we left when I paid the city tax bill. Recently the Italian government has put up the city tax for tourists but this was done after we had organised and priced the holiday. Because of this I didn't think it fair to ask each passenger for more money so I agreed to pay it. The bill came to €466.00! This is not a cheap area to bring folk!
We depart to a waving Milena and a cloudless blue sky. By the time we are in the mountains it has become very cloudy but once the other side is much better. It is always a bonus to approach Switzerland and the Alps with a bright sunny sky.
We have a toilet stop before reaching Switzerland and once again stop at the very busy Belinzona service area. We could have gone on a little longer but I am not sure which way to go as I don't want to be held up at Gotthard and Lucerne again. In the end we chance the Gothard and only lose about 15 minutes here and a bit of time at Lucerne but still arrive at the overnight hotel at 19:00.
I called the hotel on the way to arrange a meal time and was told I couldn't have anything before 20:30. I wasn't too pleased with this as I wanted to eat by 20:00 but am told there is another group in before us so half eight it will have to be.
A lot of the group come down for a drink before dinner and it takes an age to be served. The waiters are serving the other group, who seem in no hurry to move, and also serving at the bar. They are trying hard but it is poor. Half past eight comes and still we can't sit in the restaurant because the other group are still in there. I am not happy at all now and make my feelings known to the young lady at reception who then starts helping in the restaurant. The passengers are okay with it all and are being very patient but it isn't good enough. I have had problems here before and will not use the Mercure Strasbourg sud again.
We start to be seated at 20:45 and I must admit the service in the restaurant was very good and efficient and I did shake the hand of the waiter who I moaned at and the young receptionist.