Photos of our Fabulous Adventure
I woke before my alarm to beautiful Tuscan sunshine streaming through the shutters. Gosh it is beautiful here, and I really don’t want to leave!
I met the group in the dining room and, as always, everyone was engaged in lively conversation as we are all preparing to leave. We arrived from all different directions, and we are leaving the same way to various parts of Italy, England and Canada.
Bill and Deirdre have already left for Pisa and the next group to leave are Holly, Don and Janice who are off to Siena. The first of many goodbyes over the next day or two. We were 30, and now we are 25.
Marcello arrives promptly and we get the bus loaded and are off right on schedule at 9:30am. Marcello is pleased as he says if we were Italians, we would have left much later. He is very comical as he only speaks Italian with the odd word in English and yet his expressions say it all.
The ride to Pisa was very quiet and low key – I think we are all quite tired from our fun filled very active week. I am sure many feel, as I do, sad to be leaving this magical part of the world.
Gail & I sat in the very front seats and Rod, Charlene, Dave & Doris at the very back. Half way through the journey, I hear my phone ding and say to Gail ‘that must be Jessica contacting us’ – she is studying in Grenoble, France and is meeting us today in Pisa!. When I read the text it is from Rod at the back asking ‘hey, where are the Kit Kats?’ I just cracked up. We had promised to hand out the Kit Kat bars as a treat on the way back, and being Rod’s favourite chocolate bar he wasn’t going to let me forget 😄.
It is obvious that we are getting closer and closer to Pisa, fewer & fewer vineyards and quaint villages and more ? Industrialization. Another indication are the toll highways. Marcello becomes slightly agitated when one of the toll booth arms don’t lift when we come through (the electronic signal on the bus should let us pass without stopping). He has to reverse the bus and speak to a staff member through a speaker. We don’t understand the whole conversation, however works like ‘mama mia’ ‘solo en Italia’ and ‘non capisco’ filter all the way to the back of the bus. Hilarious.
By noon we have arrived at the PisaMover where 10 of the group are leaving us, Lynne, Colin, Jack & Carol, Marcia, Jan & Graham are off to Tellaro on the coast, Trish & Dave are off to catch the train to Rome, and Lesley is finally reconnecting with her missing bag which is being held at Pisa airport. Hugs and goodbyes all around and then we were 15.
Final stop, the Allegroitalia Hotel and it feels like we have returned home. The ladies at the front desk welcome us and we relax in the nice cool lobby until our rooms are ready.
While waiting, Jessica, our niece, arrives from Grenoble France. She is doing a 3 month exchange from the U of A as part of her degree. She spent many hours via car & train to reach Pisa to have 24 hours and a glass of wine with her aunts & uncles. So exciting to see her.
Once the rooms are ready we are off to have lunch in Pisa near the Tower. Lunch was fantastic and we were even serenaded by an old Italian man with an incredible voice. Time now for a family selfie in front of the Leaning Tower – great fun and laughter abounding.
Enroute back to the hotel we pick up wine and snacks for Happy Hour before Rod & Charlene have to leave by train to Genoa. The fun just never stops as we have our final family Happy Hour, and we get tearful when we have to wave goodbye as the leave in the taxi. They are off on a MSC Cruise tomorrow from Genoa and we are envious that they are extending their vacation.
Snacks not sufficient we go to the dining room for food and we are told ”Not Possible” – they were booked solid with groups. So Gail, Doris, Jessica & I head back to the Rino restaurant from last week and ate there. It was crazy busy as all Italians go out with their entire families on Saturday nights!