Day 30

  Bonjourno....
     I love Pisa!!!! It is so cool here! Literally and figuratively!!!
     So after an amazing night of sleep (which I so appreciate) I had breakfast and headed out of the hotel.
I needed to make a quick run to the train station (yes, it does seem like I frequent train stations) The good thing about that is when I have to go back to actually get on another train I am pretty comfortable with my surroundings:), although today I was there because I did something that I realized wasn't the smartest thing in the world. I booked my train on the 12th leaving Pisa to Milan at 5:55 am!!! Seriously what was I thinking? So I changed it to leave at 11:55am, much better. I realized I would have to get up at 4, miss breakfast, not be able to sleep because of worrying about my suitcase, just all around not a good idea! While I was at the train station I also made plans to take the train from Milan to Monerosso (that is where Cinque Terre is) an amazing little town that Jeffrey told me about a long time ago and said I must go. There are no cars there only boats and trains. I decided to go because people I have spoken with say Milan isn't that big of a deal and trust me missing a day shopping won't hurt me. I have a ticket (singular because it is only for 1  ha ha)  to see the painting of the The Last Supper, really the reason I planned to go to Milan, I will have a little time that day to check out the city.

    So back to my little Pisa, it's so great because it is small and you can walk everywhere. I haven't even got lost or needed my IPhone map! I thought I may get lost walking to the Leaning Tower and I turned a corner and well.... you just can't miss it. OK so I have seen a lot, but seeing The Leaning Tower of Pisa, it was crazy! I was so excited I couldn't stop smiling. It was so unbelievable, the lean was insane. Did you know they closed it for 10 years from 1991-2001, they had to dig up the earth on the non leaning side to settle and stop it from falling. I walked up to the top (they only let about 20 people go up at a time) and it reminded me when I went to the top of The Statue of Liberty, it got more narrow as you went up. From the top it was absolutely breathtaking. I couldn't believe I was there.

Everyone was taking these funny shots of pushing over the tower. Of course I got into that!!! Everyone taking pictures was great, we were all taking pictures for each other and laughing when we looked at them. The one of me kissing the tower was the most fun, there was this cute couple that asked me to take their picture, I then asked them to take mine and I did the kiss. She was so excited how good it turned out she asked me if I would take hers. She hugged me!!! She was so cute!!!

     I found this great App on the IPhone that was an audio tour of Pisa. So everywhere where I went I had a personal tour, down to details of "walk in and look to the left and you will see...." Amazing simply amazing. And there were hardly any people here.

     I also toured the Battistero, the Duomo, Museo Opera Duomo, Camposanto, and Pazza Cavalieri, which were all incredible. As you can tell I highly suggest a trip to Pisa if you are visiting Italy. I have a few more places to visit tomorrow. The picture is of the Battistero and the Duomo, from the top of the tower.

    On my way back I was a hungry, so away from the touristy area I stopped by a place that looked like  locals went there., The name is Pizza al Taglio, as I was deciding what I wanted the owner said that the ham and cheese pizza was coming out of the oven in five minutes, so I said sure. I'm not kidding you, it was the best Pizza I have ever had in my entire life, I also had a big salad and a bottle of water and it was only 5.50 euro! A must go if ever here, even at triple the price! The owner also gave me a piece of Cecina (chickpea, flour, water and salt) looks kind of like polenta. He just gave it to me and said he wanted me to try something that was created in Tuscany. I ate it tonight back in my room and it was delicious. It was a great day!!!

     I was thinking today that I feel like I am in the best dream of my life....and it's reality!!!

L'invio di tutto il mio amore, (sending all my love)

Laura

I took this myself, sitting my camera on a ledge. As you can see there is no one around. Simply beautiful!

Thought for the day:

If this is the first day of the rest of your life.... What kind of day do you want it to be?