Pisa and Roma

After my day and night in Lucca I wanted to see San Gimignano for the very old sky scrapers and for what Simon the Aussie (I met at Yag Bar) said was the best Gelato ever. However, when I looked at the map the only way there was by driving. So, instead I took a train to Pisa which was an hour away on the local.

The moment I saw this I thought  "I'm so hungry." I figured that if it hasn't fallen yet it would still be there in 20 minutes. so i walked right back out of the gate and bought a 12 euro pizza and coke.

I could see that they were repairing somethings but then I noticed that people were going inside. It's amazing that they let people climb a building that is famous for its poor structure.
So of course I had to do it too. Inside you can really feel that the building is leaning. Its a little like a fun house. And the marble has formed with the pressure from the footsteps.







I went back to Florence afterwords, but i can't find the pictures of the Hostel there. Anway here are a few of WowRoma, the hostel in Rome. I really like this neighborhood. If I lived there I would like to live on this street Via Manzoni. If you walk a block down and turn the corner you can see part of the Colosseum.

more pictures of Firenze or Florence

I Don't know why we even call this place Florence if it is not its name. No matter what language someone is speaking, if they mention New York you hear them say "New York."
The first think i did in Firenze was find a hotel which turned out to be the Machiavelli because it have only 3 stars and the name caught my eye.(later I stayed in a much cheaper hostel around same corner.the International students hostel-about 20 euro a night)

this is video of from top of the Duomo, the first place I went. i believe i climbed about 500 stairs. and then had to walk down- which really hurt as it was the day after the Roma marathon.


rainy day



the first evening and night i walked pretty much everywhere. i took this pic on the way back to the populated side of town. I got lost after leaving the Internet Pitti. and of course wandered through very dark narrow streets with deep door ways until I reached this bridge and saw the Ponte Vecchio- the bridge I took earlier

From the top of the Duomo in Florence
my hotel window
The Ponte Vecchio
at the Uffizi

Sign in Lucca.

on the wall in Lucca



my hostel room
sign. this sort of make me think of Ark City

Right now I'm in Lucca at the Internet Point. Its a place with a western union, telephone booth and a fax machine. I rented a bike to ride on top of the city's out side wall. I also road in the town a bit. I wish I could have rented the bike all night because I don't feel like being lost in the cold at 11pm again. It's going to happen. That's what I think I'm going to remember about Italy the most...walking down dark streets with deep doorways and no people around. I need a scarf. Ok so I'm about to head back to my boarding school style hostel on the other end of town. first here are some pictures from Rome and one from Florence. I would add more but I have to use internet time to look for places to stay and more places to find internet later.

Sistine Chapel

St Peter's Cathedral



Roma at night

Dell'Accademia, Florence