Time is flying by

Have had a very relaxed few days. Last Wednesday we drove up to the Barberino Designer Outlet Shopping Centre and had a look around there with the associated delicious lunch and coffees. Thursday we decided to do one of the many walks in the hills around Vellano and we chose to walk through the woods to Macechino.  Well over it was quite pleasant. Pretty well uphill for about an hour and a half but not too bad. 

Decided to come back a different way and it turned into a bit of a nightmare - washed out track, badly marked, steep slippery slopes, etc and an hours walk turned into three and a half hours. We were glad to get back to Vellano to a beer at the local bistro.

The next day we had.a wonderful day in Pisa. Went firstly to the Piazza di Miracolis with its Leaning Tower, Duomo and Baptistery. I wasn't expecting too much but really loved the whole setting and the Duomo blew us away.  It was magnificent inside and out.

That tower has a fifteen foot off the vertical lean on it.  amazing.  We then went for a stroll down town and discovered that Pisa is more than the Leaning Tower.  It is a delightful laid back picturesque place and we thoroughly enjoyed strolling through its beautiful piazzas

Wandering over bridges over the Arno

Looking through its department stores (this is H&M

And enjoying a coffe or two

We ended the day driving out to the Marina di Pisa to see an example of the Italian beaches. Not very impressive by our standards but the Italians were enjoying it.

Ciao for now.