It has been a while since I have posted anything as we have been visiting some of the places in Europe that we have wanted to go to before we move home. We decided that since we will be moving back to the states at the end of the year to take advantage of seeing some more of europe while it is still so close. So over the next few post I will share some of these adventures with you all!!!
Our adventure started by missing our flight for which I take credit. I was so stressed about other things with getting ready for the trip that day that I got stressed about catching the plane a little two late. So the first night of our adventure we spent at the airport hotel in order to catch the 6:30 flight to Pisa, Italy. I must say with the rest of our travels I was much more worried about catching the plane. I learned my lesson well.
To start off the pictures here is one of some beautiful Tuscany scenery. We were a little surprised at how hilly it was there.
Our first stop was the famous tower that doesn't stand straight. We all took turning trying to push it upright, but no worries it is still leaning. We found out later that the tower started leaning about ten years after construction started on it, and they finished it like 200 years later without fixing the foundation or moving the bell tower. I guess they thought it would be a great way to put Pisa on the map and get tourist to go there.
It has been a goal of mine for a very long time to see this tower so I can now check it off my list of things to do before I die.
We then drove into the country to the place that Brian had found for us to stay. It was very remote, even including a ten minute drive on a not so good dirt road. It was a little apartment in this great Tuscany house. This picture does only show our entrance
The next day we drove to Siena. It was a nice drive but a little crazy once we got there. Finding a place to park and then figuring out how to get to the main city, once there we choose the wrong way to walk on the road, but was kindly redirected by a nice tourist agent lady This big square seems to be the main thing to see.
While looking at the Square the rain started to come down. We ducked into an gelato (ice cream) shop to wait it out. Here is a cute picture my mom took of us there.
On our drive to Siena we had passed this structure up an the hill. Since we had some time on the way back we decided to stop at it and find out what this little fort contained.
The name of the place is Monteriggioni, and it is a fort that was built to protect Siena from people traveling along that road between Rome and someplace else. This is my favorite place that we visited in Tuscany. Inside we found a marvelous little old village. It was probably only a few acres big with many little shops. We went into a jewelry shop and saw the person working on a piece of jewelry, and saw another weaving on a big loom. Everywhere was just old and amazing. It was quite a find!!
This is me enjoying the view from the parking lot of the fort. The posing was my idea, just in case anyone is wondering and I think it turned out nice!!!!!
On our way home we had this amazing little village before our eyes. It was such an amazing looking little village, sadly we didn't have time that night to stop go into it.
The next day however as we were to drive away from Tuscany we did decide to stop and have a look around. It also was an amazing old city with many crystal shops and even some places, we heard, that you could watch them shape the crystal, though we didn't stop to see that. We did have a nice walk and get some lunch before driving on to our next stop . . .
Lake Garda!
Hopefully that post will be up soon!!!!!
Lake Garda!! This was the view from our little apartment and about as much of the lake as we saw, beside driving near the water for a while. We arrived Saturday evening to find Hienz Springer a friend of my mom waiting outside for us. He gave us the key to our apartment and showed us around the place. We didn't actually see anyone who ran the place until it was time to check out on Monday morning. It was definitely the off season We just had time to do get some, have dinner with , and go to bed.
