Day Trip: Pisa
18 Jan 2015
21:02
This weekend, we took our first day trip to the monumental Pisa for the leaning tower. It only took an hour train ride to get there, sixteen euros round trip. We stayed up until around one the night before, so we opted for the 10:28 train instead of the original 9:35 train we planned on. We (everyone minus Rachel) all woke up feeling groggy and tired. The boys were supposed to meet us at 9:45, however they were ten minutes late. We get to the train station and have no idea what to do and the train was supposed to leave in ten minutes. Everyone’s cards kept getting declined or needed a PIN. Forest was the last one to get his ticket and when he selected his train, the machine warned him that it would be leaving in five minutes. We didn’t know where the platform was but Dana asked an attendant and he directed us. We got our tickets stamped and began running towards the platform. It felt like a movie.
Once we got on the train, it began moving within about a minute. Within the five minutes of walking on the train trying to find a seat, someone let a door smack me in the face, I aggressively pushed a door when I was supposed to pull, and tried pulling and pushing a door that was meant to slide. It was rough. Besides the beginning struggle, the rest of the ride was pleasant.
Turns out, our train took us to Pisa Centrale, instead of the one closest to the leaning tower. This worked out in our favor though, because it gave us a chance to walk through the city. It was a little dirtier than Florence, but we actually felt comfortable with our cameras out for once because we were there to be tourists. Walking around with them was a great time. Our first order of business was to get food because we were all very cranky. I unknowingly got a tuna salad sandwich, but it was the biggest sandwich for the cheapest price. I also wanted a cappuccino, but the lady gave me an Americano. Once I got my items, we went to sit outside because sitting at a “self service” place usually costs money. I sit down, my tuna salad is all over my hands, my coffee spills and I just decided to sit back inside with a table. I needed a place to compose myself.
After our meals, we felt much better. It was about a 10-15 minute walk to find the leaning tower. The street leading to the tower was lined with gypsy vendors trying to sell selfie sticks. Sorry, but if I said no to the first 5 guys who asked me if I wanted to buy one, I obviously do not want one from you. You’re just supposed to ignore the gypsies and not make eye contact or speak.
Everyone at the tower was taking silly pictures, so we didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable taking ours. We each had a pose we wanted to do, mine was licking the tower. Taking pictures only took about 30 minutes tops, and afterwards we wandered than sat on the steps of a building on a lawn adjacent to the tower and basilica. We all had a great time hanging out and taking pictures there. We brought saltines and I fed some crumbs to a pigeon. Don’t worry, I sanitized my hands after.
On our way back, we stopped in some of the stores there. They have stores similar to forever 21 and H&M called Promod and Pimkye that we stopped in. Their H&M was huge and beautiful. The building had been restored for retail, but still kept the mid century charm of the building.
After our shopping, we made our way back to Florence. Most of us fell asleep on the train after a tiring day, but Pisa was the perfect day trip.
A cat approached me! So happy!
this is what I picture when I think Tuscany