Day 6 in italy- the road to Tuscany

So yesterday morning after a heartfelt good bye to the Aimone family in Biela- Valdengo we headed out to the road to go to Tuscany.  Lots of driving for David- Ellen does not drive on these fast roads with Italians.  Actually Ellen has not driven at all.  I don't know if I will.  The tolls here on the highway are outrageous- guess they want you to take the train.

Anyway we made our way first to Genova- thought we would get out but did not- a big city- got pretty confused but made it out.  Then we continued on our way to La Spezia and did get out there.  A lovely port town on the Mediterranean but it was crowded being Saturday.  We thought we would take a boat to the hill towns there- it is called Cinque Terre- but it turned out the last boat had just left.  So we go some information and decided to come here another day- we can take the train and spend the whole day.  

Next we continued our drive and got to Pisa.  Now I am really into the corny touristy things so I really wanted to se the leaning tower since we were there.  Poor David driving all over- dealing with the various mistakes made both by the GPS and myself.  But we did make it.  It was both amazing and very funny.  We had heard about how people pose to look like they are holding up the tower- this was very true and all were doing it including us- see pics.  We were only there for a little while and then continued onto where we are going to stay for a lovely week in Tuscany.  The cottage that we have and the view are too amazing to describe.  It is truly picture perfect and even though David will post pictures it does not give a true feeling.  You really have to come here to see it. But we are in a very charming one bedroom cottage overlooking the vineyards and hills.  Today we are getting a slow start and will probably just stay local while planning the rest of the week.  I did not want to go into Florence on a Sunday- again the crowds but we plan to go in several days as well as other day trips.  

Anyway we hope everyone else is doing well.  And we hope you are enjoying or even reading our posts. I am enjoying writing them- sort of my public travel journal.  
Till next time...
Ellen