Dropped off stuff in Lucca

I don't know how to use these toilets for going #2...i just busted a squatting position
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Hello!  I woke up in the morning at 0900 and immediately headed out to see the town.  I accidentally left my wash cloth in the shower at the hotel....ahhhh oh well.

I got lost down really small streets in Pisa.  I noticed that many of the buildings were off-white colored with green accents...like Greece but with different color scheme.  For me, the smaller the street the better so I got really lost on my way to the duomo where the tower of pisa was.  But it was such a nice way to get lost...the streets were very romantic and the town seems to retain much of its local culture despite being flooded by tourists.

Views of Pisa from above on the Leaning Tower were amazing
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I finally found my way to the leaning tower of Pisa and it was leaning a lot more than I had expected or seen in pictures!  It was a magnificent building and it looked...almost better leaning the way it did!  I walked around a bit in the duomo and decided to walk up the tower (15 euros), see the cathedral (2 euros) and see the cemetary (4 euros).  I dropped my bag off in the reception area where I bought the ticket and proceeded to climb the stairs of the tower.

It was neat because you could definitely tell that the tower was leaning while you circled the staircase...some parts were easier than others.  The view out of the small windows also showed that the tower was leaning quite a bit.  From the top, i took panoramic pictures of the town and it was soooo nice.  I took some pictures of other couples for them and hung out for about 15 minutes soaking it all in.  People were panting on their way up (mostly elderly) and I was too.  It was strenuous to get to the top but I was sooo glad that I did it.

This is the nearby cathedral and the baptistry
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When I got back down I immediately headed to the nearby cathedral.  It was my favorite so far.  I liked it because it was simple and still elegant.  It wasnot nearly as elaborate as past ones nor as enchanting but it still retained the high ceilings and nice paintings and sculptures.  I walked around and took a couple of photos since they were allowed.  I said a quick prayer to Grandpa.  I honestly don't know how to pray but I figure that there's no wrong way huh?  I hope he's doing okay and that I didn't send bad karma.  Love you geeps.

EVERYBODY was doing this so I had to follow suit
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The windows of the cathedral allowed the sunshine to cascade through and it made nice beams of light here and there.  It was good stuff!  I just walked around a bit and then left.

I used the bathroom for 0.30 euros...I hate paying to use the bathroom..boo Europe. I went to the cemetary which was very peaceful.  Nobody walked through it so I got to see much of it on my own.  They had many sarcophogi (spelling?) and a peaceful grassy center.  I don't know much about it's history but I don't really recommend walking through it.  It was quite boring to be honest...but it was nice to get away from all of the tourists scattered in the duomo.

just a rustic picture in one of Pisa's small side streets
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I did like everybody else and took a picture in the stance suporting the leaning tower just like D-pak.  It was funny because EVERYBODY was doing the same pose here and there.

AFter leaving the duomo I got further lost until I found a pizzeria and had a pepperoni pizza slice.  It was very tasty and good to my stomach.  I walked into a market and bought a bottle of water, shampoo (Frankfurt airport took mine as well asmy toothpaste), toothpaste, and some fruit.  I eventually walked back towards the train station in the south end of the town.  I found a gelateria and had coffee gelato which was to die for!  It was really really good.

Near the river
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I found my way to the train station and paid 2 euros to get to Lucca about 30 minutes away. The ride was magnificent and gave good views of the nearby mountain range (don't know the name).  I got off the train and immediately headed to the tourist office where I got a small map.  The first thing that hit me about Lucca were the walls that surrounded the city center.  I walked along the walls for about 1 kilometer and stopped in the grassy areas to overlook the city and eat some of my fruit.  It was a really peaceful town much like Kaneohe and similar size.  I eventually made my way through the city center and found the Torre de Guibini ( i think that's what it was called).  I paid 4 euro to climb the tower and it was well worth it.  At the top they had four trees providing good shade for visitors.  The tower was one of the tallest in the city center and gave panoramic views of Lucca.  I snapped many pictures and hung out for 30 minutes just taking it in.  Italy is beautiful.  The houses all had brick red shingles and it made for a myriad of angles, directions, and separations caused by streets.  Great photos.  I had more of my fruit and snacks and then climbed back down the 42 meter tall tower.

This is the wall that surrounded the center of Lucca
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I found a touristy store across the walkway which was actually a street and bought a hat.  It's the kind that I've been looking around for for the past year with Donna but never found one that I liked...this one was nice and cheap : 7 euros.

I eventually sat down at a plaza and had some lunch.  This is when the bad stuff happened.  I was talking to a man with dark skin who looked really creepy....he turned out to be semi nice and was also "visiting" lucca.  I saw a couple nearby having trouble with their bicycle because the chain had come off the derailer.  The gear was bent so it took a while to put it back on....my hands were greasy so after the man and I helped out I washed my hands.  When I came back outside my bag and the man were gone.  I feel really ripped off...did good for somebody and got a slap in the face for it.  Most important things that were lost include my USB flash drive with all of my pictures from the trip and $600 in cash.  BoooooO!!!!  I met Mariangela, truly an Angel, and she took me to the nearby...police station...only it wasn't the police.  She said it was something similar and that I should file a report with them because they do more and are better paid....okay I said.  She stuck with me for 3 hours translating and what not...so glad for her.  It's sad that it took such an bad event to happen so that I could meet such a good person.  I made my report and then headed out to the train station to get to Cinqueterre.  I have my set of clothes that I'm wearing...my wallet, camera, cell phone, and a couple of maps...oh and my bottle of water.

I walked on the wall and relaxed in the grassy areas they had.
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I caught the next train to Cinqueterre.  The Tuscan sunset is sooooo beautiful.  It's like everybody writes about and the movies portray it.  I eventually found the Hotel Souvenir in Monterosso, the eastern most village of the 5 in Cinqueterre.  I paid 25 euros after some bargaining with the hotel keep.  That's when I met Tetsu, a Japanese national traveling and doing a bit of business in Tuscany.  He too bargained down to 25 euros having heard what I paid...he didn't speak much english so I translated for him into spanish, which the hotel keep understood.  Having our bargain rooms (mine was two full size beds again and his was a queen size!) we headed out to dinner.  We were both looking for somewhere cheap.  We eventually got to a cafe where he had a spaghetti with pesto sauce and I had a simple tossed salad (I was still full from my meal at the cafe where my stuff was stolen, by the way, Jessica I will buy you another bag....don't worry I have to since I do need to bring stuff over to France...whatever I buy I will give to you upon return...it was loyal and SOOOOO useful to me while I had it, sorry I lost it!).  We chatted a bit and I found out that he is a 26 year old business man from Tokyo.  He buys wholesale clothing and sells them on internet auctions.  It's a very lucrative business in Japan.  He can by Dolce and Golbana jeans here in Italy for 100 euros and turn around and sell them for 450 euros easily.

The top of the Torre had trees that provided nice shade to overlook the city.
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Tetsu and I decided to meet up in the morning and go hiking through Cinqueterre. There is a path that goes through all five of the villages and we plan to do that one.  At night, outside of the hotel souvenir, we sat and I learned a bunch of japanese including "who", "what", "when", "where", and "why".  I also learned some other stuff like "hot", "cold", "tired", and "Japanese".  It was a lot of fun and I really want to learn more of the language.  I also taught him a bit of Spanish.

Mariangela helped me with my ordeal.
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He lent me a pen and paper to write down my journal for the day.  I used soap and shampoo provided by the hotel for a shower.

Stuff stolen for the day but I have met two amazing people and I feel that these relationships are priceless.  The only thing that is not replaceable in my bag was my USB flash drive of pictures...all Barcelona pictures are with Pere...didn't really like Germany, Czech Republic, or Poland.  The best of the best in Greece are here online...so I guess I made out okay.  I was roughing it before...and now I'm really roughing it.  Haven't brushed teeth all day today...no change of clothes.  One minute left on my cell phone.  Batteries on camera and phone are full so I hope to use them sparingly until the end of the trip (6 more days).  I have my wallet which is the fundamental thing that I need.  I also have my Let's Go book which is also a lifesaver.  I have never hated anybody as much as I hate that Morrocan guy who stole my stuff.  Just goes to show that some people really don't have souls.  But at the same time, I met two amazing people who have easily canceled out his greed and malevolence...I guess the world can keep turning.  Love you all!  The next few days will be interesting now that I am stuffless..