Photos of our Fabulous Adventure
Up at the crack of dawn at 4:30am (yes it was already light out!) and by 5:15am we were on our Hoppa bus to Terminal 5 for our BA flight to Pisa. Finally the day has come.
We check our bags, go through security, and it is only 6:15am. Time for breakfast. Lynne & Colin have beat us to the airport and are already in the Giraffe Cafe. We join them and order breakfast. Rod announces, I am on vacation I am having a Bailey’s & Coffee with breakfast. Charlene seconds that and the vacation begins!
Our flight leaves on time and we have a short 2 hour flight to Pisa, Passport Control is non-existent and the baggage comes relatively quickly – wait – not everyone’s luggage, Lynne’s and Rod’s are still in London. What?????? Ginny has arrived at the same time with all luggage, and she has come from Vancouver with two transfers! Finally, after a long wait reporting the lost bags (quite the line up as many others didn’t arrive), we meet our transfer service to the AllegroItalia Pisa Tower hotel.
We wind, or rather fly, through the narrow streets and traffic circles, narrowly missing other cars as we go and arrive safe and sound at the hotel. Whew. From the hotel we have a fabulous view of the Tower of Pisa and the Cathedral in the distance. Our rooms are not ready so what is the only logical thing to do, that’s right, have a glass of Italian wine. Great idea!
Rooms ready, we check in and decide to walk to the tower. A short 20 minute walk we are oohing and ahhing at the beautiful structure like kids in a candy store. Rod, Charlene and Ginny get tickets for entrance to several of the buildings and to walk up the Tower. As Doris & I were here 4 years ago, we were on a mission to find a cafe for dinner. The mission was hijacked the moment we saw our first sorbetto in the window. Snack devoured we chose a restaurant and then were on backpack watching duty for the Tower climbers.
Tower climbed with copious photos taken, we connect with Gail & Dave who have just arrived and we proceed to the cafe for happy hour. There is a lot of laughter and photos. Before long, Gail and Dave arrive and there is even more frivolity. It is so great to be with family on our tour – it’s been 45 years since we were all together on a vacation to Disneyland! How time flies.