What a feast for the eyes today was. It began as a very early morning, with the bus rolling out before 7:00am! As sleepy as they were, the students couldn't help but to be in awe of the incredible scenery as the sun rose over the tallest peak in the region, Jungfrau. It dominates the scene in many of the pictures that you'll see from the hotel.
Once on the bus, we dipped and wove through the mountains and into the countryside of Switzerland. Not only is it like a postcard, but everything about Switzerland, and so far Europe, is as stereotypical as it gets. Everything you've seen in movies, books, and pictures, is exactly what we're seeing here. The cows with their bells, munching in the pasture, the small houses, chaotically dispersed on the edge of an emerald green mountain, and much more!
We had a long drive ahead–about 7hrs–so the students entertained themselves by taking pictures, in epic rap battles, reading, or just catching up on some rest. We stopped for a quick lunch just past the Italian border, and then...everything changed!
As mentioned a moment ago, everything so far on this trip has appeared exactly as we'd all imagined, and Italy was no different. There seems to be some sort of force field at the border, because as soon as you cross into Italy, the views change, the scenery changes, the people change, and the chaos increases exponentially! The drivers are crazy, and the kids all got a kick out of simply watching the cars on the road. Weaving and tailgating and cutting in at the last second...we're all glad we have two incredible bus drivers!
Once we arrived in Pisa, it was a short walk to the grounds where the famous tower lies. It may have been the highlight of the trip so far, as students jaws needed to be picked up off the ground. The tower, hundreds of years old, sits behind the Duomo and the Basilica in all it's glory, leaning just enough to make you tilt your head and go, "Wow!"
Students were broken into groups and took turns climbing the tower, as the rest explored the grounds. On the journey to the top, it's interesting as you begin to notice the slant on which you are climbing, which switches direction all the time because you are walking up a spiral stair case. In the video, you will see that the steps have been worn down over centuries of use, and you will be able to appreciate how difficult they are to climb. The view from the top is magnificent, and nobody wanted to come back down. Once both feet were back on concrete, most of the students bought their mini replica tower and gelato (gelati is plural we learned) before heading back for the bus.
Another quiet bus ride ended with us arriving at our hotel in Pescia, Italy. The hotel is gorgeous, and once settled, none of us wanted to leave. Dinner this night was, in many opinions, the best yet! The meal started with freshly home made pasta, followed by a healthy portion of chicken, spinach, and potatoes, all lathered in olive oil. Dessert followed as well, with not one, but two scoops of ice cream.
It was truly an unforgettable day, and the hard thing to imagine is that tomorrow will be just as magical. Hope you are doing well wherever you are reading from, and we're glad to see so many of you following.
