Hey - that building is leaning!

Amanda and I drive from Milano to Firenze (Florence) where we are to meet back up with Heather and Melissa at 3pm at the hotel. The drive through Tuscany is beautiful. A lot of people think of Tuscany as a city but it is more like a state/county. Rome is in Lazio and Florence is in Toscana (Tuscany). During the trip we do ponder why we have American names for the Italian cities - why can't we just call it what they do?

We arrive at the hotel a little early and grab a bite to eat at the local bar. An Italian Bar is like a coffeshop. Think more like a snack bar than an alcohol bar. On the way to the bar, we pop into the liquor store. A nice sized bottle of Galliano is 13 euro. What a bargain but I am worried about customs and bringing over too much alcohol and having to pay custom fines. Amanda and I are trying to find some Absinthe but have had no luck so far.

We meet up with H&M and decide to take the train to Pisa. The train ride is about 40 minutes long. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually part of a church and is quite interesting. The sun is setting and I get some great pictures. Across from the tower is a great store and I am excited to be able to finally find a touristy gift shop. The store is closing and they will not let us look around anymore. I sadly look at the clerk and she lets me purchase the two items I had in my hands. While she is ringing me up, I add a few more items that are around the register and then see under the counter the Italian charms that I have been looking all over for. I spent about 80 euro in the store, imagine if I had a chance to actually look around!

We have dinner at a same trattoria in Pisa. I play adventurous again and order some food that I am not quite sure what it will be like.