June 30: Pisa and Viareggio

We're finally getting to know our way around Florence (even though it's only been a few days, it feels so weird to not know where you're going or what you're doing). We made it to the train station this morning after stopping to ask directions twice (three times if you count the lady that turned me down because she thought I was a pickpocket). We took the train to Pisa, and arrived around 11.

Somehow, we avoided a 40 euro fine that we should have paid because we didn't time stamp our tickets. We managed to find the Leaning Tower or Pisa, after we had to switch buses because we went the wrong direction. It's super huge, super touristy, super crooked (and you can climb it!), but still really awesome to see and say you've been there.

 These are two of my three roommates, Jasmine and Lauren.

Take touristy photo holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Check.

And then I lost my balance and almost fell off.

Also, this might be one of the best people watching places in the entire world:

After catching a bus back to the train station, we took a train from Pisa to Viareggio to spend the afternoon at the beach. There are miles and miles of private beaches (you can rent chairs and umbrellas, in some places for 20 euro a piece), and six or seven yards of public beach. We discovered this by getting kicked off one of the private beaches.

The beach there is beautiful. The water looks a lot like the Atlantic, and there aren't any waves. But the mountains come right up to the town of Viareggio, so you're swimming looking at the beach and palm trees, and then the (huge) mountains and snow behind them. We were also warned to watch out for the Uhm, I don't know how you say in English..uh..medusa..uh..I don't know.. *que spirit fingers* Or, jellyfish.

And, Viareggio is super adorable: