Italy 3

We had a wonderful full size coach bus to take us to Pisa this morning where we paid 2 euro a piece to enter the very grand cathedral of white and gray marble which is situated next to the leaning tower. The tower leans alot but was not as tall as I had imagined. The area was surrounded by grass inside the stone walls and was very beautiful and picturesque. If only you could cut out the row of tourist souvenier booths along the opposite edge. From there we went a half hour drive to Lucca, the medieval city in the Tusacan area. We had a great time. First, we dove into the first pizza and gelato spots that we came across. It was 1:15 and time to eat again. Then we wandered a few blocks to find the bicycle shop where we rented 9 very nice new bikes for 1 hour. They did not have 18 bikes available so half rode and half walked up the rampart to the top of the city walls to ride the paths. The inner city of Lucca is enclosed by fortress walls which were built very wide. A smooth road circles the city and is almost entirely tree lined. The first group detoured into the city below and conveniently ran into us at the top of one of the ramparts where we were filling our water bottles from the natural spring spigot. The second group had their turn on the bikes and we regrouped a half hour later. A few of the boys bought cycling hats or soccer jerseys. For the next hour the four adults steered clear of the 14 boys and vice versa. When we met the boys at the bus, they had just started a pick up game of soccer with some local boys their age who invited them to play. They were so bummed to have to leave at that moment. Back at the hotel, groups of the boys played some volleyball in the parking lot and another group played soccer in their new jerseys. Maggie and Laird found us at dinner, then there was a meeting, then bed.

We have a big challenge tomorrow with a scrimmage against Recco. Fortunately, Laird is here to take picture.

Ciao,
Lynne et al