It started with running to beat the bus at the next stop in order to make
it to the train station where we ran through the underground tunnel,
dashed to (i can only think of the word in french...) "compost" the
ticket and sprint to the train on binario 2. Literally right after we
leapt on board the doors beeped and closed and we pulled away amazed by
how unbelievably close we came to missing the train.
At Pisa Centrale station we knew we needed to
transfer to a different train to get to the airport, but by the time we
made it to the biglietteria and back the only train that would work had
just pulled away and we were running out of time to make it to the
check in desk. We hurriedly took a cab and a ran through the airport
only to find out that our flight was delayed THREE HOURS and that there
was no need to rush.
So......we decided to see what Pisa had to offer
since there was no need to mope around the airport. We helped some non
italian speaking forlorn travelers talk to a shop owner about a nearby
hotel and then we had an aperitivo. Let's just say that it helped take
the edge off a little bit. After our adult snack we trapsed around an
obscure part of Pisa for a while, saw the river (it's still the Arno
like in Firenze!), debated whether or not to touch the water just to be
able to say that we did, saw a church downtown, walked around what
could have been an ancient city wall, and meandered back to the
airport. All the gelaterias had closed by the time we thought of
getting gelato so we chilled out with some ice cream at the airport. It
was overpriced but totally worth it. (I guess that's a contradiction.
Oh well.)
Anyhoo, in the airport we met a native Valencian
that studies in Hamburg and was traveling back to Valencia because he
missed warm weather and he gave us some places to check out. We boarded
the flight and then were pleasantly surprised to find out that instead
of an airline, Ryanair is a wannabe game show. The flight attendants
donned in schiffo gold and navy blue outfits try to sell something new
every few minutes while the overhead announcements offer tempting ways
to "be a millionaire with ryanair." It was quite restful. Just what I
needed before what lay ahead...
By the time we arrived the metro had stopped
running so we had to take another cab to the place we were staying.
Fortunately, our host was very sympathetic and helpful. We collapsed
onto the futon and tried to recharge.
We woke up bright and early and headed to the
beach. It was wild to be so warm in February. By wild I mean extremely
wonderful. For our first meal in Spain, we picked a restaurant and
ordered the most expensive thing on the menu (it was only 10 E) having
absolutely no idea what it was. To our language barriered delight, it
was delicious! Steak and veggies. miammm. Afterwards, we walked around
the historic center, saw some lovely fountains and artfully enjoyable
graffiti. It's a very different feel of graffiti. Somewhere between
Florence and Berlin in the time space schema of city graffiti. We went
to the central market and bought some dried and non dried fruit. If you
time your entrance just right, you can snap up the mistakenly labeled
"expired" produce tossed into the aisle at closing time. Basically,
Sylva grabbed a few perfectly decent strawberries with her starving
artist ninja skills. It's a jungle out there.
Later we went up the Bell Tower and then walked
a ways in what used to be the river that runs through Valencia. It was
converted into a beautiful winding park/bike path/playground that seems
more like a futuristic spaceship wonderland than a city in Spain. At
one end there is incredibly fantastical architecture and at the other
end, a BioParc.
Dinner on Friday was quite interesting. We tried
several restaurants and eventually picked one that seemed like it would
be good. The tapas we ended up with was more like a combination of
dim-sum and hush puppies...but now we
can say we had tapas in Spain.
We rented bikes Saturday morning and spent two
hours blissfully riding around the "river" in unbeatable weather. It
was wonderful to bike for the first time in over a month. Lately I've
been following the Giorgio work out plan that includes only running
when you're trying to catch a bus.
Downtown we ate the local dish called Paella and
then found a creperie with a bus that serves as the kitchen cemented
into the restaurant. It was way cool. I think chestnuts are my favorite
sweet crepe ingredient. Afterwards we took our time walking back and
hit up a supermarket and bought some things for dinner. Then we left
for the airport. And of course we had to rush, but at least the plane
was on time.
Once back in Pisa, we had a memorable experience
waiting at the bus stop. The crew at one in the morning is the epitome
of sketch so we waited outside a clean, well-lit hotel. Once we finally
made it back to our homestay, it was immediately lights out. I think I
slept like a metamorphic rock. (Try to figure that simile
out)
All in all it was a great trip and a great
experience. I was very humbled by the fact that none of my language
skills helped very much at all. I would very much like to go back to
Spain. Che bello!
