Pisa

We sadly left our apartment in Riomaggiore this morning and headed further down the coast to Pisa. We decided not to ditch our packs today. First reason they didn't actually have lockers just luggage storage, and secondly the line was disgusting long, and wasn't worth it for the 2.5 hours we were there. 

But on the train ride to Pisa we met a mom and daughter, daughter was our age, that were on a trip together. We chatted with the hem for the whole shortish train ride to Pisa. Was nice to talk to some people bout Europe itself, where they have been and seen, and just to talk really. They were also on their way to Florence but weren't stopping in Pisa. 

First impressions walking through Pisa, it is a place with a lot of random art pieces thrown pretty much everywhere. Pisa has this tower that leans, and on the direct route from the train station you run across a number of these random art pieces. Pisa may be a town with a. One hit wonder monument in it, but there are these exciting things to see as well. 

 

Also along the way we found some neat buildings and a few statues. AHEM! All please notice the horribly proud dolphin killer guy on the far left centre picture, to proud that he cut a Dolphins head off. I was quite displeased by this. But there were also some neat buildings and squares that we walked to in our short stay in Pisa.

 

So that leaning tower actually leans! Although the way we first walked up to it, it was leaning. But TA-DA! The leaning tower of Pisa! Luke wasn't to thrilled about the touristy picture but he sucked it up and did it anyways. Pretty funny walking around it and just seeing the columns change size. But neat to see nonetheless. 

 

Also was great as you aren't allowed to walk on the grass and they have signs all around saying this. But it was great fun as there were tons of people that started running away as the guard man finally noticed and started whisling at them. There is a 26 euro fine so they were trying flee before they got caught and had to pay. 

But the tower was pretty sweet. Certainly worth the stop to be able to saw we saw it. 

 

Right next to it is the church, an impressive looking church as well that you cant overlook.

 

One of the best parts are all the people standing there holding up the tower. The pictures don't quite capture the amount of people holding it up, but I really couldn't resist. There were a total of 2 military people at the base of the tower and that was all. Not sure if this is a surprising thing to me or not. 

 

 Few random things thoroughly the day. At the train station in La Spezia, where we had to catch our train to Pisa they had the best pickpocket sign. Have no fear! Your bandit pick pocketer has snatched a sandwich and water before taking something from you! Haha ahhh I just couldn't get over this guy, he has a face mask and everything. SO good! Pisa also doesn't have wifi BUT wiPI! HA get it Pi Pisa? But it's funny so pretend to laugh so I feel better about my weirdness. As I have previously mentioned a number of times, I enjoy seafood, not anything that still has eyes or tails, fins, legs, bleh! None of that still on when it reaches me. Anywho we walked past this little restaurant and their mascot was this creepy feller. 

Ick! Gives me the shivers just looking at it. But also cause I can just picture Luke's deep fried grossness that he enjoyed a couple times on the coast. But finds like this will never get old, and will always be worth the picture. Just look at the little bandit guy one more time!!

 

When we got to Florence we found our home, and actually had a nap. Our pillows are excruciatingly firm, and honestly so is the bed. The bed though I can get over, the pillow not so much. It is also really thick so it just overall hurts. But only 2 nights here, hopefully my body makes it through. 

After our nap we promptly went and found some food. THE MOST DELICIOUS OILY GARLICY GF TOASTED BREAD! I got seconds. I had to. I was really wanting garlic, as this seems to be something that the Italians don't often use, and this was SO yummy!! Luke says I will be sweating garlic tonight. But really that is just an overreaction, it is nothing compared to what I make at home sometimes. Especially the oil really calmed down the over powering garlic after smell. Even though the taste still lingered. MMMMMM! 

We didn't do to much afterward but walk back. We will get the tomorrow in Florence, so we will do our best to see all that we can. Of the brochures that we picked up, we are doing pretty much everything that it offers. Besides Florence they wanna take you to Pisa and Siena. Well we did Pisa today, and will do Siena on our way to Rome on Tuesday. The only thing that we unfortunately won't be able to do is a wine tour. It was on the list, but it won't work out. We are currently in the Tuscany region, Chianti is the wine of choice, we have had some ourselves and very much enjoyed it. We would have loved to do a Vespa wine tour or bike wine tour, but we won't have the time to do it all. But we talked on the train ride here about how you can't do everything, and the we wanted to see the cities this time, next time do more culturally specific type of things. 

Anyhow! So now the night is here and sleep shall be had. We don't actually get much of any wifi in our room, but that's fine as it is alright to go out to the main sitting area to do what we want. Better then Riomaggiore where we had to walk up the hill to the main office building. Commitment to the blog!! Or at least the blog remains a great excuse. 

We are still loving the language here, and figuring things out as we go. Fun for the learning curve and enjoy listening to the language! That will never change I am sure! 

Now for sleep, good, bad, painful, we shall see. Sending our love across the ocean to all our family and friends back home!

And so the adventure continues...