Pisa

When driving from the French Riviera to Florence, you simply MUST stop and take at least 100 pictures at the leaning tower of Pisa!

The baptistry

The duomo

and there she is!

All 3 buildings 

The kids are hot and tired, but we are NOT missing this photo shoot.

AND most of our pictures turned out something like this.

K

Carv - just totally miserable and NOT wanting his picture taken.  I told him someday he might be sad if I had a picture of everyone else at the leaning tower except for him.  So he stood there with THAT face.

Happy Elsie 

 My Ava

Nana

The guys, pushing her over.

The drive from Nice to Pisa is less than 4 hours.  Then from Pisa to Florence, where our hotel was, was another hour.  That made for a pretty light driving day by our standards.  We considered stopping at the Cinque Terre which is a about half way between Nice and Pisa, but then decided that really deserves at least a full day.  So we took it somewhat slowly on this day.  We enjoyed the drive along the coast, parked our car, hopped on a smelly bus full of sweaty tourists, and walked around Pisa.  We found our first hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, and had a long relaxing lunch.  Thus began the kids week long diet of authentic Pizza and gelato for nearly every single meal.  And thus began the adults week long diet of delicious Italian pasta dishes.  The food in Italy is an attraction in itself - and we enjoyed every bite.  Next stop - Florence!