I was having a sticky beak at the Hotel de la Ville post and then had a further sticky beak at the hotel's website. What caught my eye was, not the car parked in front of the hotel, but the almost out of shot horse and what I guess to be carriage. Is it possible to hire a horse and carriage ride around Florence? Does anyone know how to find out about this? This is the very sort of activity that will stay in my 5 year old's memory (and thus a direct link to Florence).
Thanks
Robyn.

I can't seem to find a link to where you can call but on I-Escape.com it says

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If you don’t fancy walking, you can jump in a horse-drawn carriage at most of the major sites

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I would contact your hotel to verify though or hopefully one of our Florence residents could point you in the right direction. I tried Googling but could not refine my search well enough to not get hundreds of thousands of hits

Yes, horse and carriages are located in front of the Duomo. They will ususally take you wherever you wish to go - or just for a general ride around town.

Hi!

Yes, you will find many carriages in front of the most popular monuments.
It is usually pretty expensive but your child will love it.

You don't need to book the ride in advance. They line up like taxis, just wait for the next one to arrive!

Ciao!

My ignorance is showing again What is a "sticky beak"? Sorry. I wa just picturing a crow who had nicked a doughnut!

I saw the horses and carriages last month in the Piazza della Signoria lined up in front of Rivoire. At that time of year, they seemed to be available on weekends, not so much during the week, although I bet this changes with the weather.

Our accommodations looked out onto the Via de' Guicciardini (in fact, the room in this picure at the Old Bridge B&B was our room - http://www.florenceby.com/oldbridge/index.html); I looked out the window one day to see a horse & carriage trot by, heading in the direction of the Pitti Palace. From my angle, it looked as though the horse's tail was bound up, and placed right in a strategic area under said tail was a plastic bucket.

chris

In Aussie a "sticky beak" is a "sneaky peak". You just change the first letters around until it makes sense to us in the U.S.

Is having a "sticky beak" the opposite of wearing "cranky pants?"

Colleen? Opinion?

Nancy!
I think you're wearing your "silly pants" today!

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Originally posted by california playboy:
In Aussie a "sticky beak" is a "sneaky peak". You just change the first letters around until it makes sense to us in the U.S.

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I guess it makes sense in California, but could you elucidate further for those of us in the East who still don't understand the meaning?

Bicky steak perhaps?

According to Australian Slang Phrases, a "sticky beak" is to "take a look or pry." Thanks for broadening my vocabulary, Robyn! California Boy, I'm now puzzled by your comment. Care to explain via private e-mail?

Back to the topic now...

My kids pleaded with me for one of those rides.

Sorry all, when I was teaching in London, the kids would give me the oddest looks sometimes when I was talking...
Yes Amy, a sticky beak is to sneak a look at something that isn't strictly to do with you.
We also have cranky pants, that's when you are being grumpy.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up re the horses. We are saying near the Duomo (Palazzo Gamba)so maybe we could horse and carriage to the Pitti Palace. We are in Florence midweek but I'm sure there will be some around at the end of May. As for the expense, I'll try not to think of that... For my little girl to be Cinderella in Florence, worth every euro!