07.10.2020-24h are not enough for a day

07.10.2020

Dear friends,

starting from today, there is a legal obligation to wear masks on the streets in Italy, but the football games are still taking place.

But let's start at the beginning of the day. Today we slept longer than ever before, so we are starting to feel really comfortable. However, it turned out to be a very bad day for a late start, as we would later find out. Of course, that couldn't disturb us, and after a relaxed breakfast, refilling and emptying everything, we finally set off from the coast further inland. Now we have officially arrived in Tuscany and after driving on a beautiful country road, which by the way received the Papa thumbs-up badge, we arrived in Lucca.

A city that has simply fascinated me because it has a complete city wall. Our walk through the city passed many locals who were walking with a jacket or sweater, even though it was 24°C in the shade. The number one feature that distinguishes tourists: they walk through the city in short clothes. After the villages of Cinque Terre, I could no longer understand Papa's enthusiasm for the "small" alleys, especially since the paths were very wide by Italian standards, but the former amphitheater was still beautiful, with its many restaurants and the perfectly matching round facades of the houses. On our way back, which unintentionally took so long, we encountered two groups of four muscle-powered golf carts racing each other, which looked really funny as they all pedaled at the same time and swayed back and forth just to encourage each other to go faster.

Our next stop today was Pisa. And the tower is still leaning. However, the flag on it and the rest of the complex are perfectly straight. This brings us to today's lesson: in Italy, public buildings close very early. Unfortunately, with our arrival shortly after half past four, we were too late, but fortunately the rest of the city was still open and we caught a nice view from the river in the sun. But the best is yet to come: cookies, simply delicious.

Now we had only one thing left to do: go to Florence, but unfortunately we underestimated the distance a bit and we arrived perfectly in rush hour. So, there was heavy traffic and no movement at all, a sun that was almost completely setting, and crossing the entire city. Papa's nerves were on edge and mine soon followed. But we have now seen the city up close at night, which is really beautiful, like a fairyland with the old buildings designed in the Roman style and gentle golden lights.

The second lesson of the day didn't make us so happy anymore: if a parking lot is close to a football stadium, you have to make sure if there is a game taking place. Because that's exactly what happened to us today and we had to find another address to stay overnight, which luckily we found quite quickly.

Finally arrived, we had to eat and talk a bit, after all, we're not here for nothing. After that, we went back to Piazzale Michelangelo to see Florence from above at night and wow, what a sight. Indescribable with the many lights, all different colors, like fireflies dancing to a silent melody, simply perfect. Then I walked back singing loudly and Papa walked quietly beside me, to finally get some sleep after this long day.

See you soon and believe me, I'm really annoying.