Italy Baby!!!!

After leaving for Florence we passed through Nice and Monaco again which was just as beautiful as the first time. We stopped at a French Perfumery to see how it was made. There were some really nice ones which we almost bought, but it still worked out quite expensive so we figured everyone can have key rings for presents instead :)
Once we crossed the border for Italy I was so happy!! That was a moment I have been waiting for, for the last 10 years!! I was dissapointed though when Joel said that now basically every country has open borders, so no more passport stamps :(

It took us around 5 hours or more to get to Pisa which was our first quick stop. Our service stop between France and Pisa was our first real Italian experience. It was a little restaurant that had a pizza shop too. Inside the pizza shop was absolutely mental!! There were people yelling in Italian everywhere and it was packed. It was stressful but amazing all at the same time.

Joel warned us before we got off the bus at Pisa that illegal african souvenier salesman would be at it again in the carpark so not to make eye contact etc. However once we got off the bus, I realised they had every brand name bag replica you could think of. They were only 10 euros... I was so tempted, but I realised that I didnt want to get murdered so just kept walking.

We walked into the Leaning Tower and it was HOT!!! I cant remember who told me it wasnt gonna be too hot, but when I do they will pay for it! haha. Its almost worse than a summer in Cairns.

The leaning tower was quite an amazing thing to see. We took our touristy photos trying to push it etc then had a bit of a look around. We only had half an hour which actually went really quick! I could have had a lot longer there to really appreciate it. Also as it was so hot we were really just keeping in the shade rather than walking around it to get a good look.

After leaving Pisa we only really had about another hour and a half to Florence. Driving through Italy wasnt what I expected at first. From the border until about Pisa was really industrial and looked quite ghetto. But then after Pisa the farms started and the green hills with sunflowers everywhere. Every now and then you would see a random castle here or there. It was getting nicer and nicer the further we went in.

Our campsite was pretty dodgy in Florence. It was built up into a hill so trying to find our room and drag our bags was a bit of a mission. Plus it just seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. We had time to get settled in and freshen up before a quick dinner and then we were going into town for Karaoke.

We got dropped off just on the outskirts of florence and walked into the Red Garter pub. It was a little karaoke bar that was pretty empty at first but soon filled up. They had cheap 1 litre cocktails which were really nice. Almost any flavour you could think of. I just had a few... (litres that is).

Most of the crew had a bit of a sing which was pretty funny. Thankfully I think they turned down the mic a bit so it wasnt as horrible as it couldve been. Everyone started really getting into it and having a bit of a dance.

The taxi ride home was probably my favorite experience in Italy yet. I started talking to him in Italian and he actually understood what I was saying and I could understand him. It was so great! We were talking about Valentino Rossi and he told me how to find his home town. (Not that im some crazy stalker or anything... lol)
The taxi weaved in and out of streets dodging cars and scooters, it was insane! And then he kept turning around to talk to me instead of looking in front!! As scary as it was, it was the best!! Exactly how I pictured Italy.

Florence was beautiful, Sunday morning we were able to go into town for a full day. We didnt really get a chance to look around or appreciate what we saw the night before so it was a good chance to see the sights. I loved all the little streets and alleys. There seems to be no road rules whatsoever!

We started with a little leather making demonstration as part of the tour, but then a few of us left the group to do our own thing. We went and had a nice long lunch at a restauarant, and ate so much pizza and drank nice wine. It was beautiful. The pizza in Italy really is as good as I hoped!! lol. We did a bit of shopping before going to this little bar while waiting for the rest of the group.

We only bought one beer each but then the two barman found us a little private booth and came over talking to us. One of them sat with us for a bit asking about Australia and different things. He went away for a minute, then came back with a free t-shirt he gave to me!! Then a few minutes later they brought over little hot chocolate and cream things for us. They were so lovely and funny!! They were telling us where to go out in Florence and where not to go. Coincidentally the place they told us not to go was the club we were planned to go to that night with the group. They told us where to go instead.

After going back to the campsite for a couple of hours we were taken back into Florence for our group photo and then for a Tuscan dinner. The group photo was taken at this amazing lookout. Then for dinner we were taken to Vecchio Firenze for what turned out to be about a 10 course meal!! It was really nice and we got lots of red wine!! But there was just so much food.

We then were taken to Space Electronic Discoteque, an Italian Club that the barman told us not to go to, but we figured we would go in and get our free drink with the tour just to see what it was like. Joel told us before we went in that in Europe 16 year olds are allowed to be in clubs, just not to drink so be prepared. But when we got in I think our group were the only ones over 18!! It was worse than the barmen from earlier that day had told us.

After such a big dinner though none of us were really in the mood for a big night so we stayed at Space and had a dance for a few hours before getting a taxi home.
Once we got back to the campsite a few of us sat down at the bar for a while just having a chat and a few drinks. We got a bit of a sleep in the next day before heading to Rome.

Our bus driver Majic was due for his scheduled 48 hour rest break so we have a new bus driver for Rome, his name is Peter. Everyone is averaging roughly 5 hours sleep a night and not really eating any vegetables or salad. We eat almost a loaf of bread a day. Even when you order a pizza, they still bring you out a basket of bread!!