Pisa!

I arrived in Pisa on Friday evening, April 27^th. Went and met my first host in Pisa- Peirgussppe – what a name right?! I was his first surfer this ‘season’. We hung out at his place for a little until some of his friends came over and had dinner together. Then we went out for the night. We went to a bunch of squares that are full of little bars. (you drink outside always). It was a really fun time. Also it is very common to bring massive jugs or bins filled with sangria- or in a shopping cart! ;) The next day we both slept in and I eventually wondered into the city but Perig had to work on his Thesis.

Piazza dei Miracoli (the miracle square) is the main attraction of Pisa and is beautiful. The monuments are all an astonishing shade of off white surrounded by grass. There are street vendors everywhere, all basically selling the same souvenirs. Also at each entrance to the square, there are black men trying to sell you something. There are five ‘attractions’ in the square- and you have to pay to go in any of them. I only went in the main cathedral and the tower. There is also an Opera Museum, Cemetery, and a Baptistery.

On Sunday, April 29^th, I went to my second host’s place- Svetlana. She was my first and only single woman host! And she was awesome; It felt like we were old friends. She reminded me of Kunlani (My west African dance group) a lot- she would have fit right in! That day we went to a couch surfing lunch/dinner party. The food was amazing! There were appetizers, handmade pasta, meatballs, potatoes, some other kind of meat, tiramisu, and lots of wine. Not everyone there were couchsurfers and only some spoke English. The meal started around 2 and did not end until about 6! We both ate so much; neither of us ate for the rest of the night! We went back to her place- talked and shared pictures.

On Monday, April 30^th, I reserved a spot for a train to Rome and then explored the city. Svetlana was busy getting ready to go to a workshop in Portugal.