We dock early this morning in Livorno, and people are off this ship fast! We’re still getting up and having coffee! We have a car booked for 8am, so we’re not really in a rush, but we still manage to get outside before 7:30, and the rental guys are there. Nice. There is a new port terminal in Livorno, so they actually have a booth inside now – as opposed to standing outside under a tent they used to have to bring. Much nicer.
There is one couple in front of us (who seem a little nervous, and decline the GPS – oy – I wouldn’t do that – but then again, we’ve been here so often, we know the ups and downs of driving around this place!) so it takes a bit to get them settled. We finally get our little car, including maps and instructions from the Hertz guy (back up for Alice), we meet his wife (who is the one who sends all the emails) and we are off – well before 8am. Sweet.
The weather today is much improved. It’s still cold, but no wind. Well, not as much wind. We are quite pleased since we have lots of ground to travel and it’s mostly outside. First stop is Pisa – so we can get in and out before the crowds. We accomplish this quite well – arriving a little after 8. We even find the parking lot I researched which is right across the street from the Campo dei Miracoli, literally a 2 minute walk. And we’re only the 2nd car in the lot. Yes!
We traverse the gauntlet of ticky tacky souvenir vendors who are just opening, and make our way into the virtually deserted Campo in the bright sunshine. It’s picture time! There’s hardly anyone around – so we have our pick of picture locations. It so pays to get up and go early, this place is normally crawling with people and we’ve got it to ourselves.
We have typically avoided this place because it is such a tourist attraction, and always so crazy crowded. But honestly, standing here looking at the Battistero, the Duomo and the tower all shining under the brilliant sun, it really is a beautiful place – early in the morning! We wander all through the Campo, exploring the tower and buildings up close and in detail, and there is so much detail to see. Plus cool statues and other architectural elements.
After a bit, we decide we are cold and go in search of a cappuccino. There is a café right across from the tower – with seating inside, but we figure it will be exorbitant prices. Still, we look (of course) and much to our amazement, it’s quite reasonable – only 1.40 E. We’re in. I mean really – we are sitting at an open window, staring at the Leaning Tower of Pisa drinking a cappuccino? You can get better than that!
Warmed and rested, we strike out onto our next journey – on to Lucca we go!
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