arrivederci

We made it into Florence the next morning.  We parked at the train station underground and walked to the old town area.  It was close to 11am and the bells throughout the city started ringing.  Did not realize that scooters rule here.  They are like knats everywhere.  We knew we wanted to see the Michelangelo museums and the Duomo (4th largest church in the world).  As we made our way to the pedestrian zone, I overhead a guy speaking US English.  I asked where they were from and he said LA.  You can always spot the US tourist it seems like.  A little loud and sticking out in some way.  They went one way and we went the other.  As we entered a church looking type building, the lady said it was Michelangelo.  Well maybe some but not the right place, so after 6 euro later we went in.  No pix.  They caught Ken taking a pix of this massive dome cathedral.  Almost removed his camera. :)

I wandered thru and was wondering where this 25ft tall David was.  The souvenir lady pointed it out on a map.  We were at the wrong place.  Thats another 6.5 euro.  So, we continued on.  Beer time.  Funny the Italians drink wine and mixed drinks.  The beer is either bottle or one of those mini bar top kegs.  Most of their bars are a little pastry or sandwich shop.  Not really the bar look at all.  We would always use the facilities and laugh at the setups.  Some have a pull chain, some would have a foot pedal and others have a double button.  You never really know which one is best, so you push them all.  All the WC's are in the lower basement level.  Motion lights that go off while you are in the middle of going.  People pounding on the door and only cold water without soup.  Oh, but Europeans have no germs Daniel.  :)

With a little buzz, we headed over to the Duomo.  Daniel said it had a tower to climb.  We were gonna do it.  Once in the church we realized the massive size and walked around a bit.  After forking over 8 euro we started our climb.  It pops out above the pulpit in the middle of the dome.  It is composed of two levels on the interior.  You would go around one corner and a whole new set of steps presented itself.  After the second inner dome level, we reached the top.  Wow what a view.  Windy and a little overcast did not deter the view.  Many pix to be had.  After about 20 mins you descend the opposite side and make it to the bottom.  Very cool suggestion Daniel.  So from there we headed to the Academia Center where the David statue was.  It was full of art work from the 12th -13th century.  Also, the 25 foot tall statue of David.  Both front and rear Louis.  :)

Once thru the gallery, the next stop was a gelato.  Very cool tasting ice cream.  Most everyone spoke english and it was easy to get by, because my Italian sucks.  Too many languages this trip to learn.  

We headed back to the parking garage deep under the train station and away we go.  On the road to Pisa.  Realizing that we should get into town by 3:30 or 4, we headed to the tower.  Just in time to get the 4:20 walk up.  Oh, but like every other visit the WC came first.  Seeing the signs and following is something all together different.  As you enter into the bathroom area, there is always some guy or woman that is just so pissed at the world for the cards they are dealt.  Sour puss from ear to ear.  We just laugh and say danke.  :)  Everyone checks their backpack and purses.  Of all the things the Italians are backward electronically, oh no, the Pisa tower people have card readers and the latest gadgets.  As we entered into the tower, you are already at an angle.  You can see right up to the top thru the center.  Its actually only a bell tower.  As you begin the ascend up, the steps are worn and it causes you to fall into the wall or center side.  Once you pop out at the top, its windy and the entire area is fenced in for your protection.  You kind of want to fall to the lower side.  As I sat and watched the people walk around, I heard some US English.  I asked where they were from and the answer was Houston.  :)

After 20 mins I had enough.  Time to get down and pick up our bags from the bag check.  Another happy worker checking bags.  Again to the Italian we say "danke" and laugh.....

So we headed back to our car hoping the thing was not broken into.  All is good, so off we go to the coastal hwy looking for a room that night.  We arrived in the dark along some boardwalk area.  Most everything was locked up tighter than Dick's hatband.  We found a room at hotel that had a lone light on.  We should have taken the warning.  Once inside no heat was to be had.  The proprietor was wearing a jacket.  Said the room needed the heat turned on and would be a bit.  So off to dinner we go.  This is Italy.  Dinner does not even start till 7 or later.  Beer thirty time.  Again out of a bar top tap keg system.  Who knows how long its been sitting.  Wine and mixed drink country.....

In walks this bum, starts talking Italian to us and we ignore him.  Wont let it go until we look at the people working there.  There is one like him in all the beach town.  Crack head  :)

Dinner was good.  Very tired of pizza.  Pizza is everywhere.  Needed some different stuff.  Nice!!

Off to the room we go.  Freaking room was like ice.  Tile floor was just cold soaked.  After a shower the tile was soaking wet.  We could not get room to dry or heat, it just sucked.  Slept in full pajamas and socks.  It finally got a little warmer by 6am.  Just in time for the sun to start rising.  Off to breakfast.  The lady asked "normal breakfast" we answer "yes".  She asked "meats" "cheese" "salad"we say yes.  Out comes croissants and coffee.  She asked if everything alright?  What the hell, we were gonna stop for lunch early :)

I have to say the drive up north from Pisa to Genoa has been spectacular.  Houses built right into the side of the mountains.  Steep drives and old churchs abound.  We stopped when we could to take many pix.  Our navigation system in the POS French Frog car actually had a fatal error because we did not listen to it.  So it shut down :(   funny....

We ended up at this peninsula area where there was a town built from the roman era.  So cool to see the ruins still being used today.  We wanted to stay longer but needed to move one.  Once on the road to Genoa, we went thru tunnel after tunnel.  Very mountainous all the way here.  You can see snow on all the peaks.  So very cool to see.  We rolled into Genoa about 4:30.  Busy, busy and a millon scooters.  They come right between the cars at stop lights and pass at will.  They suck.  So we ended up at the Bristol Hotel ****

Never been to a Europe 4 start place.  Room is cool.  12 foot ceilings, a bidet to soothe my ass :)

Balcony over looking the city.  Nice.  Had a good meal and now just relaxing writing.  Its 10:30 here and need a good nights sleep.

Ciao for now....

Wow what a tough city to navigate.  Just like at a baseball game you have people out trying to get you to park in "their" lot.  What a joke.  They will watch the car!!  The whole time I was up in the tower I figured it to be broken into.