Florence and Pisa

On top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Sunset behind the Baptistry in the Campo Dei Miracoli in Pisa.

The Leaning Group of Pisa.

Italian glasses.

In front of the Duomo in Florence.

Neptune - not up to Fundy dress code.

When you wake up in Venice and realize that by the end of the day you will have seen the David and the Duomo in Florence, climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and eaten in the best restaurant in the world in a little village on the Ligurian Sea, you know you’re in Italy. We walked out of Venice at a casual pace, passing through the fish market on our way. Rens got us to Florence with plenty of time to spare, and we got in to the Accademia without the usual pushing and yelling. Every year they get more organized I’m finding. The Accademia is an art gallery, but it exists primarily to house and show the David, Michelangelo’s sculptural masterpiece. I told the group some of the history and symbolism of this statue, and asked them to take their time in viewing it. Forty five minutes later, I had to ask a lot of the kids to move along from the base of the statue – I guess they were suitably impressed. After a brief stop in front of the Duomo, where we contemplated the Renaissance that was fuelled by the Medici family and other wealthy Florentine merchants, we split for lunch and a little bit of shopping at the covered market. From one symbol of Italy to another, we were on our way to Pisa. I found it challenging to book Pisa this year, with 52 people. They only allow you to book 10 spots every 20 minutes – so I divided everyone into 5 groups of 10 (Mr. Johnson and I skipped it this year) and over the course of two hours everyone got to climb the 200 foot tower. Climbing the tower made everyone hungry, which is good when your next stop is Ristaurante Moresco in Levanto. I think most of the 140 people I have been to Europe with in the past would agree that this is the best food stop on the trip. Roberto offers us three choices for the first plate, three choices for the second plate, and two choices for dessert. Plenty of bread, potatoes, salad, and peas are put on the table to accompany the plates of food ordered, bottle after bottle of frizzante or naturale water is consumed, and for a couple hours we just relax, enjoy delicious food and each other’s company. With a group of 52, we almost completely fill the restaurant. When we came in on the first day, there was an Italian couple having a quiet, romantic dinner at one of the smaller tables. After we were all seated and giving our orders, we apologized to them for disturbing their dinner. They said we were actually quite quiet and polite compared to groups of local kids. The quiet, polite Canadians – I guess that’s what we are.