Lucca and Pisa

The day after our day trip to Siena and San Gimignano, some friends and I decided to go on another day trip.  After becoming frustrated with looking at train schedules and tickets, we decided to just show up at the train station on Saturday morning.  When we arrived at the train station, we saw that there was a train leaving for Lucca in less than 10 minutes and it only cost around 7 euro.  I remembered my mom telling me about this town and my friend Angie, who studied here last semester, loved Lucca so I was very excited to visit.

Lucca is a precious little town that sits inside the original city walls.  When we got off the train, it began to drizzle a bit so we walked along the top of the tree-covered wall.  We found a quaint little restaurant in a little piazza and had lunch.  Luckily, by the time we finished lunch, the rain had finished too.  We explored a somewhat creepy church and wondered through the town before discovering a tower we could climb.  For the price of only 3 Euro, we ascended the steps and came across the most beautiful view.  All of Lucca was spread out beneath us- the red terracotta roofs, the wall, and the hills beyond. It was beautiful.  After the tower, we continued to wander through the town, in and out of little shops, and eventually made our way back to the wall.  

We decided that since we were only about 15 minute train ride from Pisa, we mine as well go!  Unfortunately, by the time the train stopped in Pisa, the sky had opened up and it was pouring.  We decided to venture on and ran into a legalize marijuana parade thing.  It was interesting to say the least.  We made our way to the Leaning Tower and took the mandatory pictures before returning to the train station and running to our train. On the train, some smelly American boys who had attended the legalize pot rally decided to sit right next to us and chat the entire way back.  It made for an interesting train ride for sure. 

It was so fun to explore Lucca- I know why people speak so highly of it.  It's so quaint and so Italian. Returning to Pisa to see the Tower for the third time was nice too.  I always seem to forget how much it leans because pictures do not do it justice.  It was a perfect little day away. 

Siena and Sam Gimignano

On Friday, May 17 Sue took us on another day trip to two beautiful little towns, Siena and San Gimignano.  I had visited both places previously as a student but I was very excited to return.  The weather was forecasted to be rainy but we were pretty lucky; it only rained when we were eating lunch.  By the time we arrived at San Gimignano, it was overcast but perfect for taking pictures. 

The Eustrcians originally founded Siena because it is built on a hill around 1 BC (city’s built by rivers were founded by Romans).  All the streets in Siena are hilly but they all lead down to the main Piazza- Piazza del Compo.  This is a huge Piazza because every year there are horse races that actually take place in the Piazza.  The town is divided into different guilds and a horse represents each guild.   Apparently, it is a very big deal if your horse wins- there is crying and celebrating for days.  I would love to attend but Sue (our director) said it’s so crazy and packed, it’s only fun if you are given tickets to sit around the edges.  If not, everyone just huddles together in the middle.  Maybe one day I will go.

In the morning, we toured Siena’s cathedral.  It was just as beautiful as I remembered: pale pink and yellow marble on the outside, striking black and white stripped marble on the inside.  Their library’s ceiling is phenomenal.  We also toured the museum that houses the original stained glass window and statues from the church.

After this, we ate lunch and I was lucky enough to enjoy one of my favorite pasta dishes ever- pici with a simple pomodoro sauce.  I might have to attempt to make it when I return home to the states, if I am not sick of pasta by then!

We then boarded the busses for San Gimignano.  I was so excited to go back not only because it is the cutest little Tuscan town, but because one of their gelato shops won the esteemed honor of “Worlds Best Gelato” a few years ago.  It was delicious gelato too- I had white chocolate, pistachio, and raspberry with rosemary.  Then we walked around the town and I was completely awe struck at how beautiful Tuscany is in the summer- rolling green hills, red terracotta roofs, vineyards, puffy clouds- I think I may have to print a picture of it onto a canvas to stare at every day.

Tuscany truly is a special place.