No, we didn't see the Mona Lisa but we did stay at the Mona Lisa...does that count? :-)
On our walk to the train station today, I discovered a quaint pottery shop around the corner from the hotel. OMG! The wares in there were beautiful and the lady making and painting these was about 70(or more possibly). On the way back this afternoon, I had to stop and support this little old lady!! If I didn't buy anything from her, she may not eat next week! I am expecting my spoils late August. Come by and see me and we will have a party. :-)
 |
| Stairway in Pisa Tower |
We took a quick ride on the train to Pisa. I don't think words can express the breathtaking view that is in front of you as you round the corner to the tower. It's amazing. I never knew that it is just part of a cathedral that is an amazing structure in itself.
 |
| Top or Pisa |
Again from my Frommer's book, I was able to reserve a time to climb the tower and 'skip the line'. It worked like a charm. The plaza was swarmed with people all trying to get a time to climb the tower. When we walked up at 1:30, the sign said that they had times to climb after 7:30 pm!! People just have to sit and wait just for that 20 minute opportunity to go to the top!! It was such an experience! As you start to climb, you feel like you are on a boat that is listing. As you get closer to the top, the stairwell gets narrower and narrower. If I was any bigger, I'm not sure that I would have fit!!
 |
| Ted and I climbing to the top |
It started to rain after we were down, but that was okay because I got a Pisa umbrella out of the deal!! :-) We headed back to Florence but made the mistake of getting on the locals train, so it took us an extra 30 minutes to get back. That was okay though because we got to see more of the mountainous area. One of the neatest things still is the field after field of sunflowers. It would be like riding through Iowa and seeing sunflowers instead of corn. They bow their heads all together when it is cloudy or getting darker. It was cloudy today so they were bowing for us as we passed by!!
 |
| Mona Lisa with a kitty |
 |
| Smoking Mona |
Oh...one thing about this hotel, they have pictures of the Mona Lisa all over doing all kinds of things...even smoking a cigarette. It's pretty funny.
We have another 'skip the line' tour tomorrow. This time to see the statue of David. After that we are going to try to get to Greve in Chianti. I guess that you can figure that one out!
After that, we are off to Salerno.
Why Salerno you ask? The boys had a friend, Pietro, this past year at school. Pietro is from Salerno. Carson and Forrest will be staying with him for a few days before we go back to Rome for our last day of Italy! Also, Salerno is right at the beginning of the Amalfi coast.
(sorry for any errors...I am having to do these last few by phone because I have no wi-fi here)
