Leaving Cinque Terre for Tuscany

After we left Cinque Terre, we made a pit stop in Pisa... you know, I've been to Italy several times... I think by the time I had been on this tour I had been here (one, two, three, four... I don't know how many times) and I had no real desire to go to Pisa, even though it is close to Florence and Siena. And after visiting it on this tour, I'm glad that I didn't waste any of my own traveling time (in my previous times or afterwards) in Pisa. This place is THE epitome of a tourist trap, overridden with tourists. Besides the Leaning Tower, there really isn't much here.

People say that Venice is a tourist trap, but at least you can step beyond St. Mark's Square and go wander around. Not Pisa. Beyond the Leaning Tower and this little square, there is not a whole lot to it -- I mean, if you were here for another purpose (language study, work), I could understand prolonging your stay (it still wouldn't be my first choice). But overall, I would say skip Pisa on your first visit unless YOU HAVE A BURNING, ITCHING, DESIRE TO VISIT THE LEANING TOWER.

Pisa

Leaving Cinque Terre

You see a lot of these little mini-trucks (Piaggios) everywhere. They're cute, do the job. Remind me of Korea. Italians and Koreans also drive around these 3-wheeled motorized vehicles (an Ape), I don't know if they classify as cars. The 3-wheeled cars are usually for people who do the manual labor -- you can definitely see the division of labor and $. Just a thought.

My mom and the nice owner of Pasquale