When planning our trip around the world, we decided that as a married couple over the age of 30, we probably wouldn't be able to withstand the continuum of hotel/hostel living and prior to our departure, organized apartment living for two months in Florence, Italy starting February 1st. Centrally located, we determined that this would be an ideal spot to use as a home base. We couldn't have selected a better location.
We booked ourselves on a budget airline called AirLib Express from Paris to Pisa. Ecstatic that it was 1/3 the cost of the train, and 1/16 of the travel time, two days before we were scheduled to leave we discovered that our "great deal" airline was facing bankruptcy and about to be grounded. No longer novice travelers and used to unexpected changes from our Asian expedition, we began devising our backup plan and headed to the AirLib office (they weren't answering their phone anymore). The Reservationist assured us that we had a seat on the flight (the French Aviation Association had given them a reprieve), but asked us for a phone number of where we were staying. We were a bit suspicious. However, intent on leaving (the Paris cold was wearing on both of us) we packed up our bags and headed to the airport for our scheduled departure. It wasn't until we were in our seats and in the air that we felt we were truly on our way to Italy. (NOTE: They permanently grounded AirLib four days later.)
We couldn't stop smiling the moment our feet hit the terminal floor in Pisa. We still had an hour and a half train ride to our new home in Florence, but we didn't care. We were in Italy and the newness of it all was comforting. While waiting for the train, we ordered our first slice of Italian pizza and took in our surroundings. We were still smiling, in fact giggling something almost bordering on insane happiness. We weren't even out of the airport and we loved Italy. The Italians were boisterous, fashionable, affectionate and all seemed to be having a great time. We were already dreaming about what was waiting for us in Florence.
We spent the entire train ride with our eyes virtually glued to the window. Our first quest was to look for the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I took the left side of the train and Fletch took the right. Since Pisa seemed like an industrial town with only one site to offer, the Tower, we figured that if we saw it from the train it was good enough for both of us and we could spend our time exploring the other cities of Italy. Unfortunately we never found it. Instead we spied our first Italian vineyards, stone farmhouses, country roads and curious little cars we had always envisioned.
The train dropped us in the heart of the Old City of Florence and without knowing how far our apartment was from the train station, we hopped in a taxi only to be taken a mere three blocks down the road. We told ourselves we needed the taxi for our luggage anyway. We were greeted by the smiles of our new landlords. We felt like the most fortunate people alive. |
