So it had to happen. We were in Tuscany, 50 min. from Pisa, so we had to go through with it, we had to see the Leaning Tower. I mean, it would be like going to NYC from Italy and not going to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. So we gathered into 3 cars and made our way on the Fi-Li-Pi (Firenze-Livorno-Pisa) Highway. We took three cars b/c T & I were planning on going our own way later in the afternoon. Well we were doing great in our convoy on the highway, but the strain of trying to keep 3 cars together in the Italian city traffic was just way too much to bear. But we found out way through the winding streets of modern day Pisa following the signs, "Duomo" (cathedral) till we reached the square of tourists and a parking lot — 2 of our caravan. As we exit from the parking lot low and behold, there is our third, Sharon, just pulling in.

As we make our way through the archway you see 3 structures all obviously of the same period and architectural style, white marble abounding, with one not on the same plane as the other two. The Campanile of Pisa, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa isn't quite straight. But its beauty isn't in its failure, but really in its intention. The architecture of all 3 buildings are spectacular. First we go to the Baptistry, where we get to listen to a guard demonstrate the amazing acoustics as we climb to its gallery for a view of the other two buildings across the square. Then we make our way to the Tower, stopping to take pictures of us holding it up. Finally we go to the Cathedral.

But Pisa is not meant for a long stay, so we are off to Lucca, again in caravan, and this time more successfully. We arrive to the walled city of Lucca. The first thing we do is split up into 3 groups. T & I rent bikes and ride around the ramparts of this city, stopping every so often to enjoy the view of the park around the walls or the gardens of a dwelling inside the walls. We come down from the alls and make our way from a Church that holds a crucifix that holds a hair of Jesus himself, to a plaza that still holds the shape of the amphitheatre that that Romans built long ago, and finally to meet up with the group again and listen to everyone's tail of their own explorations of Lucca. We also really enjoyed seeing all the signs for the local public transportation—CLAPP. ON every bus was a sticker next to the name that said "The".

After returning the Bikes, the other two cars headed home. T & I had other plans. We were going to Montecatini Terme and Alto. M. Terme is famous for its spring of sulfuric water. It took us a while to find where we wanted to go, but then we entered the lavish neo-Roman surroundings of Tettuccio. I found it all kinda funny. Here we were in Old Person Land. There wasn't a soul under 60 in the place, an accordion was playing and the player was singing old standards as the senior citizens drank their water and danced. The water? Well, my liver never felt better, but Theresa hated it. I have to say that the salt and sulfur made for a tasteful beverage.

After the springs we headed up. Literally, Montecatini Alto is a small hilltop town above its Terme sister. We loved it! It was so small and for us totally free of tourists. So quaint. We also had one of our best meals there. Wow the veal! And the most amazing olive oil we had all week on top of this great bruschette … Theresa bought a wonderful handcrafted leather purse while we were there.

We ended our long day being greeted by Yaeli who was up way past her bedtime … Back under the mosquito netting we go.