Pisa!

Yesterday the traveling adventures began. A couple of us girls thought it would be fun to spend the day in Friday. It sounded like a good idea, and it was...it just started off a little rocky. We all met at the train station. This was the first time any of us had even stepped foot in the building. We found our way to the self service ticket stations and purchased our tickets. Easy enough right? We figured out which platform to go to and were on our way. We figure we had enough time and were fine. Wrong. Not really by the platform on the loud speaker came a lady saying, "train to Pisa is ready to depart." Oh crap we all looked at each other and started booking it though the station. I mean full out running. So imagine a group of five american girls running to the train. So we make it and the italians are obviously looking at us and talking about it. Now it was time to validate our tickets. But where? I ask an american college student on the train and she said it was on the beginning of the platform, off the train. Now what? We all book it off the train, literally run, validate our tickets and run back to the train where the ticket checker was yelling at us in italian to get on the train. Great way to start the morning. It was comical to say the least.

We take the hour train ride to Pisa and finally arrive. The first thing we do is find a place to eat. But being adventurous none of us wanted to eat in the "touristy" area...so we find a place off the main drag. Well the spoke almost no english...great. In my mind, I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous. Finally when it was time to order I tired to tell the guy I couldn't have gluten. He didn't really understand so I finally gave him my card with it written out. He went back to the chef talked to him and came back out and told me not to worry. Nice, but I was still worried because I had no idea what I was getting. When our meals came he brought me grilled pork and potatoes. It was amazing and a relief that I didn't have to worry about getting sick. After our long dining experience we headed to the tower. It was really neat to look at the architectural detail in the buildings. There was also a great church right across the walk way. It is hard to imagine that it was all built by hand. We posed like tourists for a long time then continued on. For the rest of the day we wandered the streets and went into random shops. We also stopped for gelato, which I could actually eat! The place had soy gelato that was gluten free. It was nice because all the places in Florence look at me like I am crazy when I ask. We headed back to the train station and took about two hour train ride home.

 

Overall, the experience in Pisa was great. The food was good and I could eat what I wanted. The site seeing was interesting and worth the trip. And the shops were fun to browse. It now makes me look forward to my future weekend trips!