ATW in 45. #25

It’s too early. Again I slept well but was unable to get to sleep till 2am. Old habits die hard, the kids were out till late drinking and I can not count on my daughters 27 year old brother to take care of her. He can’t imagine any dangers. Yes, he is a moron.

Dragged myself up at 7am. Showered and dressed and packed by 730. Now sitting at breakfast in the hostels dining room with Emily. Nothing special. But it’s cheap. 5 Euro all u can eat. Food is bad but at least servings are large. Perfect for the poor youngsters who stay here. High carb, high cal low $$. It’s the Golden Corral of Italy. And, wide screen playing constant music videos. Keeps you from staying and eating more.

We have been eating and sitting for an hour. The kids just showed up. They seem to have forgotten they wanted to get up early and go do things. I got the blank stare when I brought it up to them. Idiots.

So here we sit. They eat. We sit. God, I am tired. Never listen to your children when they say they want to be up early.

We did finally get in motion. Michael wanted to stop by a sunglasses store in Florence. He wants some cool Italian made shades like his father. I have several pair and I think they are awesome. And beautifully stylish. And Legit. Well, mine are. He can only hope.

Anyway, we loaded up the car and checked out of the hostel. Then drove twenty minutes and got street parking right out front. Turns out, the numbers on this street are not sequential. So we were a couple blocks away. So much for good parking.

We had to call the shop to find them, kinda crazy. Address #19 is next to #98. So very Italian.

We looked around in there for 30 minutes. Michael got a really cool pair, something that works for him. I would or could not wear that style. And, of course, Emily found a cool pair as well. To go with the pair I talked her into buying yesterday. We are all about style, esp in Italy.

From the Bottega Sguardlia (sunglasses) we went to the bronze Statue of David on the hillside above Florence. It’s a copy of the original which is in the Uffizzi gallery here. We were really just killing time and I also got to drive all over town. It’s my way of practicing my Italian. There seems a total disregard of traffic rules here but after a while you can see there are rules. There is a Roman Way to drive. Bumper cars.

We wandered the square and took a few candid shots and non candid. Very crowded in the square, lots of vendors too.

We hung around 20 minutes, jumped in our coche and headed to Pisa. Actually, Galileo Galilei Intl Airport, Pisa Italy, rental car return. It was a pleasant drive down the motorway. Nice, uncrowded scenery. Sides of the road not covered with signs. Each off ramp did not have several sites to purchase and consume rapidly prepared food. Or get gas. Highway beautification means something here. I could get used to it. The road condition is about same as back home.

About 30mi into our 50mi trip I pulled into a rest stop. They have a gas station. And a small food vendor. I would like to say, the Italians serve excellent food and coffee at the rest stops. We had lunch, sandwiches & coffee. Cheaper and far better than the crap I get back home. No fast food here. Just excellent food. The bread was good fresh baked bread not some Subway crap. The cheese and meat are like the best delis. I’d be lucky to get McDonalds back home.

The gas pump was next. Took a little figuring but I got it. Pretty much same as home. Except it was close to $6.50 per gallon. OMG. Ouch.

Off to airport. Pisa airport is tiny and easy to get around in. We found the rental return, dropped the car and walked to the terminal. Picked up a taxi and went to he hostel. Crazy. Storing our luggage till 3pm check in. What to do in meantime. Have a drink. Again, it’s vacay. Ten to three now going to check.

We were allowed in the room at 3, dumped our crap and went out on the town. The town being Pisa. A town with no pity. Or so I hear. Guess where we went in Pisa? Come on, u will never guess. Go ahead. Wrong. We went to see the leaning tower of course. What the hell else is there here? I think it’s the only reason there is an airport here. Or a town for that matter. I have to admit, it’s an awesome Wonder of the World. In person is something truly special. It explains all he tourists.

We did not spend the $40 per person to climb the 284 steps. Too much money!! I paid far less for Notre Dame and it has thousands of steps. It was enough to see it live and in person. Very nice.

Oh yeah, food for thought, the Italian engineers have stabilized and partially straightened the Leaning Tower. They could get it perfect. But that would be turning a golden goose into pate. The tourists would disappear. What good would that do? Gotta keep the filthy lucre flowing.

We left the Tower square and wandered. Stopped at a cafe for apps and drinks. Four Aperol spritz’s and a white wine. Some bruschetta. Nice. We wander d further after that and had dinner at another nice Italian Cafe.

Back to hostel, we gotta get up early for a train to Nice. The kids went downstairs to drink and watch the Croatia/England semi, World Cup. England lost.

The kids showed up very late and very drunk. Very. Drunk. I am going to sell them in the souk in Fes when we get there.