We woke up in time to get to our 9AM breakfast booking (not that there was anyone checking). In the way of big hotels (and this is a big one) breakfast is included in the room rate, and even though the breakfast room is huge, the require you to book a slot in advance. Just as well too, because although we found a table free when we arrived, there weren’t many available.
Big buffet spread with all of the usual breakfast foods and a chef actively cooking fresh omelets, which were quite nice (mine had turkey and cheese in it). Unfortunately, in the manner of big hotel breakfasts, there was no real coffee to be had. I suffered a cup of the awful coffee-with-milk pre-prepared machine produced simulacrum, but Cath smelled it and wouldn’t go there.
After breakfast we went looking for an actual espresso machine in the hopes of buying a real shot. Found one in one of the other cafe/bistro things on the ground floor, but that did not open for service until 14:00, so was of no use at all.
We went back to the room so that Cath could get some more sleep: we’re both still quite lurgid with cold symptoms and are determined to get over them as quickly as we can, with lots of good rest. I needed a coffee though so set out to see what the neighborhood had to offer. Luckily, the closest coffee shop, directly across the tram-stop square in front of the hotel, turned out to have excellent coffee. A big La Marzocco machine, fresh beans and a barista who knew what she was doing. “Flat white” of champions. Had one there and then ordered another to take away, along with a double espresso for Cath, which she agreed was excellent.
Cath’s been sleeping and I’ve been reading and tweaking blog entries ever since. The shiny blue morning weather has given over to the expected afternoon overcast and it isn’t looking as though we’ll get very far today in our sight-seeing plans. Better not to push it when sick, I think.
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