Friday 17th September

 17/09/04 Day 76

While with Strange disgruntiated girl and sweetful girl, there was a bit of a queue for the shower. So I went up to our rooftop spot and for the last tellys breakfast. Then we set to Pisa.

It was a strange day in that we had heaps of different plans lots of connections and now containing. I liked Pisa lots and lots. And left the walk from the train station crossed a large river with tours multicoloured, unbroken Italian garandes stretching along each side.

And the tower! Photos have immortalised it to such an extent that it doesn't even feel like you are looking at a building - more like a concept or something! Great!

And the Square was lined + lined with tackly souvenirs.

It was a bit dishartining how our plans gradually fell apart: no moped, no suitable accomodation... But it turned out positively well as 4 nights in Pisa would have been nasty. So we ended up staying there only 3 hours. Picked up some link on the way to the station and got on a train to Siena. We were slightly short of time to get to the trie place before it shut and after waiting 10 minutes for a bus we decided it at wryly point. Serious through a gradually picturespering town, and I managed to get to the trie place just as the pulled the long out of the lock. But little help that did us - the next words Solithe day being "everything's full". This was the story at the next three hotels and Heathers halthearted attempt to ask locals also turned up nothing.

We made a few phone calls to open up some option but having fallen in love with Siena and the Tuscan countryside we were loathe to retreat back to Pisa. It was during an attempt to find a room for the nearby holiday lodges (with a night on the streets near the meat-train option) that Brian came to the rescue and we where offered a room for €8.5. It was a lovelylovely room, but it would have been worth the money just to avoid the alternatives - and we got defer too.

By this time Heather's stomach had taken over her mind and consequently I ended up with some disgusting fruit cake and dry bread for dinner (only someone who has spent 2 months with the digestive system-extraordinary will understand that!)

Siena is perfectly lovely, if in a very gothic way Heather, I'm sure, will expand.

for me a day of junk food Starting with 3 chocolate croissants. Siena almost fluent Italian established that we da no longer had to pay supplements on Italian IC trains.

A saving grace for our interval tickets. The train took us eventually into Toscana and tho green fields and sprucy trees soun Showed themselves but I was not yet Satisfied with this so-called tuscan landscape.

I didn't really like Pisa from the start -the info centre had been moved, a group of drunks were racing about, Shouting, outside the train station, the noted dream disappeared, we couldn't find the info centre, it was (quite) a long walk into the centre, the place was packed with stupid people taking Stupid photos - the locals must want to weep every day. Formally I explored the other 2 buildings but I thought the whole square looked bit of pride. And have stayed I would have wanted to wnder around the medieval town. On just the hostel didnt open till 6 - how ridiculous I would not have been happy Staying a 2nd night and to I could see my carefully laid plans going to pot. So the train neared Siena, despite to falling light. tho hills I have too, been searching for, emerged from the fields of vines, old farmhaune and ploughed fields. We walked tho uncessantly long way up from the town train station and up through those yellow Galray town I was going to love it we walked tho medieval of the old town tho high brick Meddings creating cute side streets, with their added stones. There was a nice buzz about the people and a 5io playing at the ride of the road heightened even more the mood. It Seemed a Shame to have to run down the Street! And when I went down the Steps into the main Square (Piazza del campo?), I did almost stop because the centre was, do of said, shell-shaped so it provided a natural theatre for the unique town hall. The square was encentered by fancy restaurants and bars, not packed with holiday-makers out with locals out for a social drink or special meal. And in the should people just sat, chatting or on their own, in small macing round the town. I Still managed to appreciate the small boutiques, cute and deliciously Steps. the windows displaying were stylish and REAL a very well lather to top the party were stylish and filled upon a really della Gaviatt + gild I was first we stumbled Siena was a elegiant today mostThe piazza reminded us of Durham (there was even a small alley with groups outside a bar/club like klutes) and of York for its quaint handmade crafts. But Keen, thinking about it again, the town didn't remind me of anywhere - it was completely unique. I felt that a half-hearted attempt at speaking another language that I am not confident in was better than no attempt at all and it did actually, whilst! you think so or not got us a lot further than we could have got. I'm sorry to disappoint you, and not be able to make your travelling in Italy as perfect as it could have been had you a girlfriend who was in the top 20 students or one that could live up to your expectations, even. Thank you for coming to the rescue and finding that room. (Never would have coped without you becacue) have no brain as you well know.

for the rest of the day I had packed myself with a slice of pizza, a coke, a fanta and a piece of flat chicken. Anyone who was remotely human would have felt ill on that. But no, it was of course my stomach, taking over my weak mind.

The room was great, like a hotel and well worth the money.

Its also prepared us for Venice, I felt.