My kid and I leave in 6 days for a quick week at the flat. We are excited to be meeting up with our most adventuresome Aunt and cousin as well! It will fun to have another child along. We will land in Pisa and tour the tower-this time we would like to go to the top! Last time we visited we were very hot, grumpy and lost. The tower was covered in scaffolding-I wonder what it will look like this time?
The best part is watching all the crazy tourist take pictures of themselves “holding up the tower”. Of course we also took that picture! You feel like an idiot but something compels you to snap the photo-like you are missing out on some time honored tourist tradition…like everyone will point and call you a party pooper-so…you do it, then you look around at all the other people taking the same picture and cracking up at how silly it is! So next week I should have fresh “holding up the tower” pictures! I know your holding your breath with anticipation…
We also plan to visit the Camellia Festival (a lovely flower that is also used for tea), antique shopping in Lucca, a day in Florence attempting once again to get to the Children’s museum as it has been closed the last 2 tries, and of course a day with my lovely tour guide/friend Heather-who I will devote many blogs to later. She will be taking us to a farm that harvests and “polishes” farro-we also get to bake our own bread.
I am very excited to meet a new contact 1 mile from our village who will cook us a real Tuscan dinner in her home the very first night-what a treat after such a long flight and full day, we could just waddle home but I’m sure we will drive whatever tiny car they give us this trip.
Packing is always fun-we NEVER check luggage (travel tip #20 ) so we get a carry on filled with clothes and a “personal” item which for my kid is one HUGE bag full of snacks, techno garb and the “journal” of choice…for me…usually something for the flat…this time a sweet set of sunflower plates and bowls my hubby gave me this year for Valentine’s day. The kitchen at the flat is full of sunflowers and I can’ not wait to add these to the shelf. I’m also taking a sweet local treat for Heather, my neighbor Margaret and new friend Graziella. They will think it way too sweet but I’m doing it anyway-just to see them wince-what do you think it is? Made and packaged right in good old Chattanooga! Can you guess?
I look forward to this special time with my kid as she drags me into every museum she can find and I drag her into every coffee bar I can find..and we link arms together skipping into every gelato shop we can find!
My only problem is the forecast…kid and I have endured the cold when we visited in the fall a few years ago but I don’t do cold AND rain! It has rained here in Tennessee for days-I hope it will be done before we arrive! Although there are several fabulous things to do inside-we long to enjoy the festival and farm tour and walking Florence!
I will report back soon-we have our Euro’s, maps, passports and a box of Pop Tarts so we should be just fine….
Tower of Pisa
Hubby uses his pointer finger to hold up tower.
Come on…every one takes this picture..it’s tradition.
Sweet Casa Carideo.
The best tourguide! Heather Jarmin
