Ahhhh……the sweetness of life.

How was this day ever going to stack up to yesterday? If only I knew. I left Switzerland as early as possible and crossed the border into Italy about an hour an a half into the journey. I paid the Swiss tax and jumped back on the bus for the four hour ride to the city of Pisa. On the way to Pisa, I taught the passengers that when ever something goes wrong in Italy or if you see someone not having fun, you must say: Smile, this is Italy! I got this from a cheeky young man in Rome, who worked in a Gelateria. If you had read my previous entry from Rome, you would know that the first time I was there I had an awful time and after the first awful day, this man handed me a free scoop of Gelato and said to me, Smile! This it Italy….and proceeded to flirt with me and totally make my day.

Once in Pisa, I had to leave Garry, driver at the coach park and lead my group of 46 people to the leaning tower, which I was not overly familiar with. I led them all past the lookie lookie men, the sellers of African appearance selling sunglasses and fake Gucci handbags and across the train tracks the notes I had been given said to turn left at the train tracks, there was a sign pointing to the leaning tower going right. I hate when this happens, I ended up leading the group to the left as instructed, alas for me the sign was right and I had to stop and ask for directions and then turn 46 people around and walk them in the complete opposite direction. Of course I was met with many a Smile, this is Italy, comments. At least they were all good natured about it.

I eventually got to the leaning tower and turned my group loose for an hour. I had many pictures taken pushing the tower over and holding it up. I even managed to take one of myself looking like the tower was falling on top of me. I must be the only person alive who could self take that shot. The complex itself was amazing, I couldn't believe how much of a lean the tower actually had on it. It was made of gleaming white marble, with many small terraces and people walking around at a slanted fashion on top to compensate for the lean. Everywhere tourists stood with their cameras taking cheesy photos, in short the place was over run. It didn't seem to matter though, everyone was having fun, including me.

The other buildings, the church and the baptistery were also quite impressive, the roof on the baptistery was red terracotta and stood out quite strikingly against all the while marble. I attempted to round my group up and met most people at the meeting point, alas I had to leave some people behind, non English speakers who obviously hadn't understood me when I had said the meeting time. I walked everyone back to the bus and then ended up having to go look for them, because we couldn't leave ten people behind.

When I finally had everyone back on the bus we set of for Florence, in which we are only staying one night. I got there and met the guide straight away and got on the walking tour with the passengers. I spent the tour desperately trying to follow the map so I wouldn't have another incident. I did get to see the main church, which although gothic is very brightly coloured. I think I may actually have a new favourite church, sorry St Vitus's in Prague. It was one of the most jaw dropping churches I had ever seen, besides the colours it was so intricate and the frescoes painted on the outside were so vivid. It also had a baptistery in front of it, which was huge and constructed out of white and green marble.

I saw the replica of Michealangelo's David in one of the main squares and resolved to get up early to visit the original at the Acadamia tomorrow, which is actually near the hotel. We walked through the courtyard of the Ufizi gallery and out to the river and onto the Ponte Vecchio. The famous bridge looked so weighed down by shops that looked like it would fall into the river. The sun had just about set and all the shops had their lights on, it looked simply magical. After my one wrong turn at Pisa, the passengers wanted the guide to walk them back. It was a straight walk, how could anyone screw that up? The guide walked us about half way and I did the rest. I think I earned some confidence back.

I got them all into the dinner hall, had dinner and met some of the staff, including the bar boss. A gorgeous man by the name of Phillipo. After I had checked in I came back down to mingle with everyone. We spent a bit of time outside drinking and talking, before they looked like they were wanting to go home. We all said we wanted to go inside and party and Phillipo and one of the other guys stayed back for another three hours! They also insisted on giving us all free shots all night!

Everyone started drifting off and on my third limoncello shot, I see Phillipo walking towards me, and Garry, our driver over his shoulder at the bar smiling at me. I think to myself, what's going on here then, why is that gorgeous man coming over here. He must want to dance with one of the girls in the group. Imagine my shock (and terror/delight) when he came over and pulled me out of my seat and onto the dance floor. I was terrified of not being able to dance with this man, until he said to me, Let yourself feel the music, in the sexiest Italian accent I have ever heard. Then I just stopped thinking, not because he had said that, but because my brain just stopped working completely. I just went to mush, I knew I had that ridiculous grin on my face again and I could see Phillipo smiling back at me knowingly. Great, I thought, so much for being the least bit coy.

He swung me around and drew me close to his chest, one step back, one step forward, he twirled me around, he was an amazing dancer, certainly the best I have ever danced with. I was breathless and my head was swimming both with the alcohol and with what was actually going one. The song finished, I thanked Phillipo and went and sat back at the bar with my knees still shaking and proceeded to have another shot.

I danced with other people for a while and then went outside and chatted to the last ones standing before going to bed in an attempt to get up tomorrow to go to the Acadamia. Kidding myself to the last minute!