The week after my Spring Break, the Kaisers came to visit during Laura's Spring Break. On that Thursday, they invited me to go down to Pisa with them! Even though I've been in Italy for about three months, I amazingly hadn't been to Pisa yet! I was so excited to spend the day with my second family! We got there, got gelato (naturally), then headed to the tower. Its amazing that something that heavy can stay standing when its tilting so much! We climbed the tower and, of course, took some touristy pictures. I was able to go into the Cathedral (without paying) by going into the entrance meant for those who want to pray. It was very beautiful, but unfortunately no pictures at all were allowed. It was a very nice afternoon, and I was so UNBELIEVABLY happy to see the Kaisers! As much as I love it here and don't want to have to go home so soon (just a few weeks now!), I am really starting to miss everyone back in the states!
me, my best friend, and the tower!
Baptistery and the Cathedral from the top of the tower
Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa
a little church we found on the Arno
The next weekend I took two day trips...one day I went to Cinqueterre (which I will be blogging about separately) and the second, I went with the school to Siena and San Gimignano. We started the day off at Siena. We had some time when we first got there to explore, so we wandered the streets around Piazza del Campo for a little while. Then group then, as a whole, headed over the the cathedral and the museum for tours. It was BEAUTIFUL. The cathedral was very ornate and busy, but in a way that was so beautiful it took your breath away. After the cathedral, we headed to the Palazzo Pubblico for a small lecture on some of the art there. We then had some free time before we left, so we went to get lunch at a small restaurant. I have never had bad service since coming to Europe, but the owners of this restaurant were SO rude, I was absolutely appalled. Luckily, the food was so good that it easily made up for it. I got a pasta dish with wild boar- it was mouthwatering. We then got gelato (of course) and hung out in the sun in the Piazza del Campo until it was time to leave.
Piazza del Campo
Palazzo Pubblico
Siena's Duomo
delizioso!
San Gimignano is a lesser known city in Tuscany, but one of the more beautiful ones. It is very picturesque and many of its buildings are originals from the medieval times. We only had a short time there, but we got to explore the church and the famous frescoes inside, and wander around for a bit. Walking the streets, it really felt like you were in the Middle Ages because everything looks so new, despite the city's age. We eventually stumbled upon a little piazza that overlooked the surrounding Tuscan countryside (San Gimignano is set upon a hill) and the roofs of the buildings lower down in the city. As it was time to leave, we got gelato (again) at Italy's #1 gelateria- it was SO GOOD, but I have to say, I preferred Badiani, my gelateria of choice in Florence.
Tuscan countryside
San Gimignano
church in San Gimignano
After so much traveling during Spring Break and the weekends leading up to it, it was really nice to just stay local and explore some of the nearby town in Tuscany. I love the countryside here, and every town you stumble upon is a beautiful little gem.
Abbracci e baci! xoxo
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