A Pisa My Mind/The Wrong Terrain is so Right

Joann and I took a day trip to Pisa. This is very exciting for a couple of reasons. A) this is the first little day trip we have taken, B) my first time seeing anything Italian that I have always seen in books or movies, C) we got to eat some pizza in pisa (which I insisted on) and we actually at it at a place called Pisa Pizza (which my college friends will get a kick out of). So we decided to take a train instead of a bus from Siena and soon discovered that the Train Station is not exactly as convenient to get to as the bus station. You actually have to trek down this "mountain" (read: slightly steep hill) for about half an hour. Actually, having put that on paper it doesn't sound so bad...but believe me it is a long way. We get on the train and are quickly scolded by our conductor for not having ''validated'' our tickets...this seems stupid to me. Why wouldnt they just do that when you get on the train, or better yet, when you by the ticket for the train that leaves in 8 minutes....regardless, the guy was super nice and decided to let us go without the 40 Euro fine...unclear as to whether or not he was exaggerating to make himself seem even nicer.

After the two hour train ride we arrive in Pisa and make a B Line for to tower. The town of Pisa is actually pretty sleepy, not a whole lot going on, but pretty nonetheless. We break out the map and decide on the quickest route to our destination and set off.

(aside)
This brings me to a point about Italian maps. EVERY map of the city makes it out to be about the size of New York, no matter where you are. We literally had to go across the entire Principality of Pisa and it took us close to 17 minutes to walk. Nothing...nothing is really all that far away in Italian towns. I digress...

So we arrive at the piazza where THE. LEANING. TOWER. OF. PISA. resides. And it actually is pretty spectacular. I think the first words out of my mouth were, "wow, it is awfully lean-y". And it is indeed. The funny part that no has really discussed before is that flanking the tower to the left are two remarkable and astonishingly beautifuk buildings that were originally part of this entire complex (either governmental or papal...we are unsure), but no one even glances at the feats of architecture...including us. Joann and I mutually decide that these beauties would become infinitely more interesting and sought after if they too decided to just start leaning...perhaps in new and interesting directions. When I brought this to the attention of the slender African gentlemen to my right, he simply insisted I purchase a knock-off Dolce and Gabbanna belt buckle...I politely decline.



We eave the piazza to find some grub...and we are famished. We learn another valuable lesson about Italy on this day. From 3:30 to 7:30 in the afternoon is siesta time. No exceptions. Not a single restaurant was to be found (open that is). We finally stumble upon "Pisa Pizza", which is ssentially fast food pizza, but we did not mind...it was delicious and perfect for that moment.

We stumble around Pisa for an hour or two more trying to convince ourselves that there is more to do in that city, when God knows there is not. So we come to the agreement that if we pass a Pub on the walk back to the train then we will in fact stop for a few drinks out of respect for our day trip. Needless to say we were on the train within 20 minutes and heading back...or so we thought.

In our haste we had gotten on the wrong train. There are like 3 trains that leave Pisa and we got on the wrong one...fortunately we had not noticed our mistake until we rolled in Florence (the other direction than Siena). Now, in general this may seem like a bad thing, but alas not when you land in Florence. (I should tell everyone that does not already know that Joann studied abroad in Florence 6 years ago...and loves this city unequivocally). I swear to you that Joann's eyes it up like a DEA Agents in Tony Montegna's mansion when we got to Florence. We could not go to enough places fast enough. We happed around having drinks here and there, every other sentence begins with "This is where we used to..." and it is wonderful. We decide to have dinner at the restaurant her and her old roomates used to frequent and it too is delicious (lunch in Pisa, dinner in Florence...this is my life?!?). We have to catch a train home, but vow to return to this amazing city within the week...and return we shall!!! (no really...i know the italics make it seem really dramatic, but in reality we did return...just a few days later, but I will let Joann tell that tale...)

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