I know – really cheesy . . .
Pisa is about a lot more than the iconic Leaning Tower, but that’s why we came. It is a beautiful city on the Arno, very similar in appearance to its neighboring Florence. Every Piazza and building seems to be steeped in Renaissance history. Portions of the original town walls are still in place and many of the streets are lined with the famous “umbrella” pines for which the area is known.
Once again, we took the train. We had some difficulty finding a cab to take us to the station, there were crowds of people in the area. We ended up sprinting to jump on the train, without validating our tickets (a huge no-no). The train was packed and there were no seats, so for the first time since college, I stood between cars. Fortunately, it’s only about 15 minutes from Livorno to Pisa. And, the travel gods were watching over us since the conductor never got to us to punch our tickets, so we escaped the consequences of not validating our tickets (which is supposedly a hefty fine).
It seemed like half the people in Italy must be visiting Pisa today (a Tuesday in October?), taxis were scarce. We had the option of the public bus, but decided to take the local Hop-on (15 euros), 10 minutes to the Tower, and pick it up an hour later for the remaining 50-minute tour back to the train station. It worked out well and gave us a nice bit of history along the way.
Oh, about those porcupines, it seems they were hunted and eaten as part of the local Tuscan diet; I’m glad that delicacy never caught on.
Some Tips:
Train fare to and from Livorno is 5 euros each way and trains run every hour (towards Pisa at 12 after the hour; returning to Livorno at 28 after the hour). From the Pisa train station take public LAM Rossa (approx. 2 euros), to get you to the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) where the Duomo and Leaning Tower are located.
The Hop-on bus leaves every hour on the hour from the train station. It also goes to the nearby airport. Be flexible – the headsets are a bit problematic, and the route/schedule is just slightly off, but it was worthwhile.
Along the Arno in Pisa.
The Campanile, at the Florence Duomo.
Lorenzo Ghiberti’s beautiful three-dimensional Gates of Paradise from the 1400s.
It was an easy hour train ride into Florence from Livorno. Advance info said all trains were at 12 minutes after the hour – but we caught one about 15 minutes earlier. Italian trains are always a bit of an experience and you have to validate your tickets prior to each trip (or you get a hefty fine); I had read to look for the yellow machines. PS, they are all green and they don’t all work. Another note, you still have to pay a Euro to use the toilet at the Florence station – an annoying blast from the past.
We enjoyed visiting Florence again and just walking . . . a little shopping at the San Lorenzo market, seeing the statuary at the Loggia dei Lanzi, strolling by Dante’s church and museum, and time to see the beautiful bronze doors (actually a replica) at the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Lunch overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and, of course, chocolate gelato.
The day fittingly ended with an AzAmazing evening at Livorno’s historic Goldoni Theater and a performance by three tenors singing Italian opera favorites.
Grazie Azamara.
On Cap Corse.
The Ligurian Sea.
The Old Port of Bastia was a quaint starting point for our trip to Cap Corse, the “finger” peninsula of this French Island.
This is a mountainous island with peaks reaching more than 8,000’. Cap Corse offered a glimpse into the past, since this is the last remaining place where agriculture and fishing thrive (although very little fishing these days). Known for their wine, cork and chestnuts, the colorful, lush landscape is untamed and the coastal roads not for the faint-of-heart. If I wasn’t holding my breath during the hairpin turns, I was surprised by random bulls roaming in the narrow road. We visited several charming villages, such as Erbalunga, Nonza and Pino, and took advantage of a few scenic photo opportunities along the way. While under the 500-year Genoese rule, a series of almost 200 watch towers were built around the island; 90 still survive and make a striking visual impact.
Fortunately, we had a beautiful, calm, sunny day with temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. Apparently, much of the year Corsica can be windy with rougher waves hitting the shores. Ciao from the Azamara Journey.
We can’t call it Shitavecchia anymore. The town of Civitavecchia seems to have radically improved the appearance of the port area. We haven’t been to this port in many years, and are pleased to see nice green spaces and exposed old city walls. It looks very nice. Very confusing to actually navigate driving to the port, but thankfully we weren’t behind the wheel. After a two-hour flight from Berlin, it took half that time just to get our bags.
Every time I visit Italy it always reminds me of spending time with the casually good-looking, cool friend who didn’t follow the rules and was always a bit of trouble. It’s good to be back, even if only briefly.
I was only on the ship for about 10 minutes when I scheduled a wash & blow dry for my hair – learning from a couple of girlfriends (you know who you are!)
We have set sail on the Azamara Journey and are on the way to Corsica!
