Travel another way

Travel notes from Joan D., San Jose , California, one of our guests on the Provence tour. After the trip, she went to Italy.

“Pisa is a 2 hour train from Genoa, southeast. Pisa is pretty much on the ‘border’ of northern Italy and Tuscany, (Toscano) and is close to the mediterranean. We shared our seats with Maria, an Italian woman in her upper 40’s and her 6yr old daughter Franchesca. They were on their way home, traveling all the way down to the heel of Italy’s boot. (12 by train) being female, we quickly worked out a way to talk for over 90 minutes.  Eppie would ask Maria questions in Espanol (hey, who knew?) And if Maria didn’t understand or know how to respond in English, she’d answer in Italian and then if we looked lost (like, yeah!) she’d try in German, (ich spreche) so then I’d tell Eppie the answer. Then I’d ask in German, she’d try to answer in English. It was a fun and friendly experience. God Bless her, she had been in Genoa visiting her 27 year old daughter and 26 year old son. (She explained in German) then she pointed to Franchesca and said “ooops”. Some things are international.

Eppie and I had no game plan for Pisa, we figured we’d find a tour and that’s exactly how it worked out.  We hopped one of those double decker buses right outside the train station and  and rode through town. Pisa is much bigger than I thought it would be, I have always heard that it’s small, dull and nothing to do but see the leaning tower. But while its not urban, its sprawling. When we arrived at the major tourist stop we got off and walked into the large complex I was immediately impressed by the immense size of two of the buildings, and by how white they are in contrast to the very green grass on which they sit. I was also shocked by the immense crowd of people! There had to have been 75,000 people within the ancient walls of this complex. The complex is roughly a half mile long and 1/3 mile wide, so it’s roomy but since they ask ‘don’t walk on the grass’, the walkways were packed with families and TONS of students.”

   To be continued tomorrow!!