Another quick one!

Got another free 15 min voucher today since Matt and I are technically re-booking haha, love saving money!

Anyways, this morning we said goodbye to the rest of the group and then began our 18 day journey! Matt had to send some stuff via post so that was our first stop, then it was off to the train station where we caught the train to Pisa...

There really isn't anything to Pisa aside from the tower haha, but it was fun! We took a few pictures and then bought some sandwiches and were on our way... when we got to the train station however, we learned our first lesson of european train travel: make sure you're reading the departure board and not the arrival!!! haha, it was funny, we got there, realized that the train left in a minute so we ran to the track, boarded, and thought we made it when the conductor asked us where we were going... when we told him Lucca, he laughed and pointed to the next track. As we sprinted down and under the platform and up the next, we watched the train pull away! But it was alright, they ran every half hour, it's nice not being on a tight schedule!

Anyways, we got to Lucca and it was wonderful! A beautiful medival city, surrounded by the old city wall... really, another one of those places where words can't describe.. we walked around, saw a few of the piazza's, visited the Duomo, and then walked around the city on the wall, getting to the station with time to spare to catch our train... oh, and did I mention Gelato in the famous circular Piazza in the middle of the town? Another great thing about Italy... Matt and I decided we need to come back!

On the train ride home, listening to Wailin' Jenney's and Nickel Creek, I got to thinking, that this is absolutely the most relaxed I've been as far back as I can remember... no schedules to meet, to deadlines to be ware of, no one to answer too, and with my Eurail pass I can go virtually anywhere I want! I can just sit and enjoy my time without thinking about anything, it's wonderful...

Anyways, we got back into Florence and then checked back into the hostel... then Cheryl, who I met a few nights ago, from Southern California, invited me to a free photography class at the university where she's taking her Tuscan cooking classes! So matt and I cleaned up, ate, and are heading to that in a bit...

It's been exciting and relaxing, a fantastic day! But we are sad to leave our friends... in any case, take care!

Blessings,
John