Italy - Day One

March 24th

At 2:30 a.m. I got out of bed (yes, that's out of bed, not going to) and by 2:45 a.m., was out my door with my suitcase and backpack for the 3:10 a.m. shuttle to London. The shuttle was more fun than I thought actually, I was on the top of a doubledecker bus riding like I was on a rollercoaster. I got off at Victoria coach station and caught my next shuttle at 5:30 a.m. to London Stansted Airport. Once I got to the airport, I saw Kristin and Brittani in the queue to pay the £20 to check-in (ridiculous if you ask me). I was afraid I'd be late for my flight, but thankfully I made it in time and got on the same flight as Kristin and Brittani.

Once arrived in Pisa, I split from the girls and went on my own way to find the hotel I'd be staying at with Joelle. I got to the hotel and the elderly woman at the reception desk didn't speak English. Thus I spent about five minutes explaining using hand motions to tell her that another person was coming and I wouldn't be able to register for my room until she came. I then texted Joelle and hoped to God she'd get the message. Thankfully, a few minutes later she showed up. The woman showed us our room and our next mission then was lunch.

Lunch in Pisa, Italy, as romantic and pleasant as it gets... this is where Joelle would be laughing excessively at the comment about our little sit-down lunch. Basically, we walked in absolutely gorgeous weather with sunlight to the pizza place Jo suggested, I ordered my pizza best I could in Italian, waited for my slices, and by the time we decided to eat outside, it began raining. At first, it was just a few drops. Then, more drops. Soon, it was like a hurricane, no joke. The wind literately just swept every comfort from your body in a massive wave of rain. At the first onset of this, Jo says, "I don't like that." (Hahaha) I finished my slices, now cold, amid crazy laughter at the insane change of weather. As soon as I finish, we are both shivering cold practically running to get back to the hotel in now, guess what? HAIL. Incredible. We go back, get our jackets, and in our craziness, decide to go to the leaning tower in this weather.

Soon, thank God, the hail stopped but the rain kept going. We were on our way to the leaning tower, and I saw some amazing architecture and said to Jo, "wow, I guess we're close to the tower". Two seconds later, as we are walking, I saw the leaning tower and just went, "oh". Jo laughed quite a bit at my absolutely shock upon seeing the tower and told me that she was waiting for it.

We decide to go atop the tower despite the rain and the crazy fare (15 euros!!!). At the bottom of the tower, just before going in, me and Jo had this conversation:

Jo: Are you afraid of heights?
Me: Yes
(Both of us pause and look up to the immensely tall tower standing before us)
Me (trying to save myself embarrassment): No, I mean, I'm only scared when I think I'm going to fall.
(Pause as we both stare at the LEANING tower once more before we burst into laughter).

Oh, fun times. The view from the tower was tremendous. It was just, breathtaking. The climb was quite high, I think Jo counted 300+ steps or so, which added to the breathtaking nature of the view. It was so amazing seeing Pisa from above. Those mountains, the rain still falling, feeling the tilt of the tower beneath our feet... I wouldn't give up that type of experience for the world.

Afterwards, we took our touristy Pisa photographs, in other words, we pushed and supported the tower in our pictures. You'd know this if you've either (1) see one of these photographs, (2) done this yourself in Pisa, or (3) know someone who did. Then, as a treat for the day, we got gelato (THE BEST!!!) a form of ice cream that literately just made everything better. We walked but didn't care where we were going, what we were doing, for the gelato just put us in a dream trance. We were joking around as we enjoyed it, saying, "Oh, the sky is falling... but it's okay, I've got gelato". Amazing.

We went back and just rested. Then we had supper at this fantastic cozy restaurant right across from our hotel, which was just spectacular because it was cheap, family-style, and sooo good.

Our next day would be packed with similarly fun adventures, but this time, in Florence, and partly with Kristin and Brittani.

Coup d'oeil

Glimpses, they said.
He can only see glimpses.
Leaves rustle near the park,
waiting to be raked.
Won't you stay a while longer,
he asked her.
His hand's cold, she thought.
Purple, he said. You wore purple
to the banquet that night.
It was a brilliant night.
Promise me you'll stay.
Yes, Papa. But her eyes wandered
outside, towards Trafalgar Square.

---
Felt inspired by the array of beautiful music I've discovered today by several brilliant composers. In particular, this poem was inspired by Thomas Newman's "American Beauty" from the musical score of the movie. Best composer of the day, however, would have to go to Andrea Guerra, an Italian composer who is one of the best composers I've ever heard. As for my personal life, I can sum it up by two words: reading and writing. All done in Oxford fashion, though, of course :) I've been learning more and more what it means to be grateful for the things we so often take for granted. Thank You, Lord, for patience.