Today we woke up bright and early (again!) and packed up for the day. We were docked in La Spezia today, which is a port town close-ish to Pisa and Florence. When we told the boys we were coming to live in London, and that we would be traveling to various parts of Europe, we asked them what things around Europe they would want to see. The leaning tower of Pisa was their very first answer (following close behind was the Eiffel Tower, which I didn't get tickets for in time and we couldn't go up, nice #momfail on my part!). So the boys were SUPER excited to see the tower today. I was too actually!
We ate breakfast and headed out to meet our tour group to head out to see Pisa for the morning. We had planned several half day excursions for the cruise, that way we could be back on board in the afternoon for plenty of swimming and playing on the ship. So our trip to Pisa today was just a half day.
When we got outside it was kind of a yucky, muggy day and it looked like rain. One thing I hate when we have spent a lot of money on a vacation is to be rained out. Like I hate it! LOATH it. So I was a little grumpy when I saw the weather, but soon sucked it up and put on my big girl panties and we met our bus driver and tour guide and headed off!
It was about an hour and half bus ride to Pisa from La Spezia and our tour guide probably talked for about an hour and fifteen minutes of that ride. She was hilarious! She was telling us lots of facts about Pisa and the surrounding scenery as we past which was really interesting and cool, but also threw in some crazy antidotes and totally random facts too. Plus she kept plugging one in particular tourist shop/trap in Pisa, which was soooo funny. Can you say kickback? Anyway...she was entertaining for sure!
Here is a picture of a little Italian town perched up on top of a hill...
one of the million reasons I love Italy.
We finally made it to Pisa and got off the big tour bus and caught a little train to take us around the city into the main piazza where the tower is. If you are lazy, this tour is for you! The tour was actually named, "Easy Pisa" and the name suits the tour! I don't think I have ever walked so little touring, it was great! Ha!
That's Cosimo de Medici, Todd and my old friend from Florence! We were happy to see him again!
When I was on my mission Pisa had kinda a bad rep, like everyone told me Pisa was SOOOO overrated, and a big fat waste of time. So when my parents came to pick me up, I immediately told them not to waste time or money on Pisa. Well, I was SHOCKED to find out today that Pisa is actually really, really cool! Like, I love Pisa! It is a great little town with lots of Italian charm, and I think it is sad that people say don't waste your time on Pisa! Listen, give Pisa a chance and stop bullying Pisa everybody!
This could possibly pass for Florence, but nope...it's really Pisa.
Taters the happiest baby traveler on the block...
...And there she blows!
I've said it once and I'll say it a million and half times more, seeing these famous landmarks in person is just amazing!! It is SUCH a cool experience. TV, pictures, movies, etc. could never do it justice. There is something to be said seeing them with your very own eyeballs. Seeing the leaning tower in person was just so dang cool!
We then did what everyone and their dog does when they come to the tower of Pisa...
Yep, the classic "I'm holding up the tower!" pose! Watch out Tagg!
Keeping it real. Tagg was such a GRUMP while we were at the tower.
I blame it on too much sugar, not enough sleep and of course Mickey Mouse.
We had a great time walking around the piazza and just being touristy and taking it all in.
Love this family shot in front of the tower...I will treasure pictures like these forever.
Uh...fail. That was my bad for trying to direct him how to hold his hands. Oh well.
(Tate's over it by now...)
Someday they will appreciate it right? I mean, this is pretty cool!
We then set off on our own for about an hour exploring Pisa, it's buildings and streets and just wandered around the back alleyways. Todd and I were loving speaking Italian, and the boys LOVED to hear us speaking to the people and understanding them. They were like laughing to themselves that we could talk to everyone around us. It was a really fun experience.
The obligated gelato break...
Love these four boys of mine!
I had to snap this quick picture of this cute nun...I just love Italian nuns!
We met back up with our tour group at a tourist shop that the tour guide kept plugging on the ride over to Pisa (uh yeah, they know how to make money on stupid tourists!).
Thatcher got this pinocchio puppet.
The puppet was a big hit with the boys and they played with it the whole ride on the bus ride back to the ship, who knew?
Tagg got this whistle key chain thing that he drove everyone bonkers with...
They also got a couple of statues of the leaning tower, but we keep those souvenirs for them until we get back to Texas.
Tate got a pinocchio too...and mostly sucked on it.
On the ride home we saw the Carrara mountains. The Carrara mountains are full with marble and this is the marble that Michelangelo would go to to harvest for his famous statues, including the David.
You can see all the marble is the white on the hills...
Another little village on the hill.
We got back to the ship just before lunch time, and I rejoiced that it didn't rain on us once the whole day! Yay!
Queuing up to get back onboard.
My heart will always feel so much love for this flag...
We got inside and we were all pooped. So we quickly ate lunch and then decided it was nap time. We all took a good long much needed nap, and then the boys woke up and wanted to head to the kids club, which they did. We then got ready, got the boys, ate dinner and then headed out to explore the ship a bit.
We found Italian goofy in the main atrium!
Tate was is SO cute with the characters...I love this picture,
he's thinking, "is this for real?
Italian Mickey also showed up...
Uh who was more excited, the boys or Todd to see Mickey?
And he tries to tell me he isn't a Disney lover...I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.
After meeting Italian Mickey and Goofy, Todd took the boys to go see Captain America 2 and I took Tate back to the cabin to relax. Taters and I hung out and watched Disney movies and then it was bedtime.
Overall such a GREAT day, so fun to check Pisa off our families bucket list of things to see in Europe, and tomorrow is Rome. Big day. Loooong day. Can't wait! Add a comment »
