The journal has been officially renamed...NOWAT "Notes of a WACKY American Tourist".
Last night we had to crash for a while and then went to get the train tickets for Illy’s little coach ride to Roma. We then went to get lost trying to find a couple of restaurants recommended in a book a friend gave us “Let’s Go Italy - A Budget guide book” Published by the Harvard Student agencies.
Got lost, found the restaurants... not quite, what we had in mind, so got lost some more... and found THE SPOT! Ristorante Dino, location to be advised later [left the info in the room]. Just
a local hole in the wall [we also found out the origin of that quaint term during a walking tour today] and had some outstanding ravioli, tortoloni, the best Prosciutto I’ve had in many a year, and of course, a delightful pitcher of the local Grappa.Day 2 and the feet are wondering what they got into! First a walking tour around Florence that
had us doubling back all over from Piazza Della Republica, to Ponte Vecchio to Piazza Spozzi, to Villa Medici to the Duomo and lots of fun spots in between. 
After a Short stop at the Bar “I Frattelini” [The Brothers] for a great pannini and local wine, It was off again for more sites.Then we had to hustle to catch our motor coach tour to Pisa. Got the top front of the double deck bus and a super Kamakazie bus driver. Beautiful countryside, cute guide and a quiet trip, except for Raymond the Kamakazie driver.
The million + 3 scooters of Florence are a riot to watch weaving in and out...
I’m bleeding a little as Illy’s claws tend to dig in every time she saw one carom off the sidewalk and nearly cream the side of the bus.
Got to Pisa without incident, and it took longer to get to the parking lot then to
get back out of town after the tour.Nothing new in Pisa... Couldn’t get the tower straightened out for them so it still leans, the Cathedral is still under renovation, and the Chotchkie vendors are still ripping off the tourists with leaning coffee mugs, cheesy ceramics and Cheap [but not inexpensive] leather.
Other than that, it was great to step back into time at some of the day’s stops.
Well the Cuban Princess is bugging me to feed her.... [What is it with this woman… I’m Thirsty... My feet hurt... I’m hungry.... Lets go Shopping.... “per favore....Dove’ me Carte Di Credito?”....amazing how she gets the wrong phrases memorized...]
More later, we’re in a cute little internet kiosk around the corner from the hotel and the computer time is running out.
Ciao 4 Now
Chuck and the Hungry Cuban lady
