Ha ha! Can't resist a classic Tower photo op!
Today was sightseeing by public transportation. We trekked out of the huge port and right into the heart of Livorno where we caught a bus for the train station. The bus pulled up just as I was buying the tickets at the Tabacchi, which set the example for the rest of the day...running for transport!
The train to Pisa was a quick 25 minute ride, and Mom's first commuter trip! Here she is looking proud of herself...
Pisa is actually quite an attractive city. We chose to walk the 25 minutes to the "Field of Miracles" to get a taste of the town and we were pleasantly surprised at how pleasant it was.
Then you turn the corner and glimpse the Leaning Tower of Pisa and think "oh my, it really does lean!"
The square that holds the tower also has the amazing Duomo (Mom's new favorite church) with its interior of black & white 'Pisan-style' architecture, masterwork 14th C Pisano pulpit and stunning mosaic apse.
As well as the Baptistry and the Campo Santo (monumental cemetery).
Then we went to take a bus back to the train station and just as we reached the bus stop it magically appeared - how lucky was that? Not having a chance to graze in Pisa I guiltily munched a burger at the station's McDonald's (just to keep up my strength), and we hopped aboard the waiting train for Lucca.
Lucca is another charming small town that is completely surrounded by walls, but this time gigantic earthen walls. The present set were apparently designed by Leonardo da Vinci; they never actually had to repel any attackers and ended up being preserved pretty much intact and now serve as wonderful place to stroll or bicycle around the town.
The town had the prerequisite beautiful churches, 2 remaining medieval towers, and an old roman amphitheater which now is a large cobblestone oval surrounded by 12-16thC buildings. All very pretty and refreshingly not packed with tourists.
We strolled thru town, and along the walls. We lounged at a cafe and watched the world go by, until...crap! The train! We ran back to the station and right aboard our train to Pisa. Luckily I pre-bought our tickets else we'd have had a good hours wait till the next train. Once at Pisa I couldn't see the expected train to Livorno so I consulted the Info Desk. Something was said about a cancellation but there was a delayed train leaving right now, on track 12 of course. Mom and I OJ'd it thru the station and managed to catch that train too. And the last piece of transportation luck was that our bus back to central Livorno was patiently waiting outside the front doors for us. I must say, the stress of it all exhausted me for the rest of the day!
Back on board by 5:15pm the action didn't stop. It was our last night of the cruise so we (meaning I) had laundry to do, bags to pack, accounts to settle, e-reader to charge (?!?), Sales to check, bodies to weigh. We straggled down to the Main Dining Room at 8pm for dinner! That's almost bedtime in my book. A last 4-course meal to enjoy as the lights of Livorno faded in our wake, we couldn't resist one last Jacques Pepin Signature steak!
Next Trip: Rome
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