Medici Montecatini Terme

... again, it was another one of those famous sites we all have seen many pictures of but to experience it in real life was a treat. Lunch and espresso at a little local joint, we seized the day, and continued on our journey.

Torre Pendente Facts:

Today it is leaning 17'-4" off of vertical.
Started construction in 1173.
Work stops in 1185 as tower begins to lean.
In 1285 work started again, with the new levels ...

... 8230; and couldn’t find a park… jagged a disabled spot and thought we could always rip mick’s leg off if we got questioned.. Made a dash about 500metres up the road to see the leaning tower… it really is leaning!!… then quickly back to ensure the car was not towed away… back on the road heading north to Porotvenere..

... Pistoria.. Tried to find a shop open to buy beer (not stubbies) as cans are huge…and tissues for runny nose etc… seemed like an easy task but it is a very old town.. Very narrow streets.. A Sunday and nothing open… but we did see a bit of the town… some bits more than once as we went round and round and round… anyway found that there was a shop open in next town Monsummano… got supplies and then tried to find the B& ...

... to me was pretty cool. My dorm was just a two room apartment, with 11 beds. My bed was basically in the kitchen. It was cozy and I liked it, impossible not to make friends in a place like that. And the Australians were back in full force.

My first night I went out for dinner with a few people from the hostel and had what I think is the first full fish dinner of my life. Full fish meaning head included, looking ...

Okay, so its now the middle of October and we aren't even in Italy anymore, but being behind on the updates is enough of a sign of good times.

I'll do my best to catch you all up in a few short blurbs, but just rest assured that Italy was an adventure we are still trying to live out...

Florence was amazing. Full of tourists however and very very crowded, especially in the mornings as everyone embarked on their daily tours.

Our hostel was incredible. A big ...

... oil (we bought this one) and pure extra virgin olive oil. Jane and Mark bought some wine, oil and vinegar. He didn't relise how much the vinegar cost until he got the bill and went deep scarlet red in colour. I told him insituations like this you have to remember to breathe!!! We're off to dinner shortly to a Trattoria that Jane and Mark recommended - it sounds good. An early night tonight as we leave for Rome tomorrow to start the last leg of our trip. Ciao Mark and Fiona

... so they were all closed) and had some fabulous caffe y pastries at a local pasticceria. Our hotel is fantastic, there is a beautiful open staircase, frescos on the walls and ceilings, and the cutest little purse lamps. We met the other tourists in the tour group and had a delicious five-course meal of antipasti, cereal soup, spinach and cheese ...

... some not-yet-engaged chicks seem to do about diamond rings). In exploring further afield in Firenze, we came across the Ponte Vecchio - a mediaeval bridge crossing the Arno River that has innumerable gold and silver merchant stores packed in on both sides across its expanse. Reading now, apparently the bridge was rebuilt after being damaged in a flood in 1333, with nothing changing since then (except, presumably, one or two of the merchants... they were old ...

... program partook in Corri La Vita which is the Florentine equivalent to the SF AIDS Walk, but instead it was a charity walk/run for breast cancer research. It cost 10 Euros to enter the walk and it included a free t-shirt designed by giorgio armani, and a hat from salvatore ferragamo. (Granted, they were both really ugly, but I am sure all the Ate's back home will be excited by my acquisition of such high label brands) The morning was ...

Firenze (Florence): I've been to Florence 5 times and it's a beautiful city. Small alleys leading to big piazzas and high buildings. The high buildings cause me personally a bit of distress due to my complete lack of any sense of orientation. I depend on Landmarks for it, but you can't see the Duomo until you stand in front of it. Hotels in Florence can be very expensive. So be prepared to ...