Day 17: Getting Fat in Firenze

This morning, we checked out of our hostel in Cinque Terre and caught the train to La Spezia! Then we had a 2-hour layover in La Spezia before our next train, so we decided to go to a restaurant for lunch. However, the place didn't open until noon, so we had to wait around for a bit before it opened :( (European restaurants open so late here! So inconvenient...) Luckily, the lunch was pretty fast since we only ordered one course. Stephanie and I both ordered black tagliolini with mussels and scallops. Apparently it's black because they use cuttlefish ink to make it! So cool! It tasted delicious, and the meal also came with yummy focaccia! I looove focaccia! And at only 10 euros, that was probably one of the best value meals I've had in Europe! (Darn, forgot to take a photo with my phone >.<)

La Spezia!

Afterwards, we headed back to the train station, where we caught the train from La Spezia to Pisa. (It was on time today!) The train ride was very quick: only 50 min! Once we were in Pisa, of course we made a stop to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The walk there was pretty tough with my carry-on suitcase, but it was nice being able to see the city too. The tower is actually shorter than I had imagined! haha. It's quite pretty though (the stonework), and it was worth a visit! We also got some funny pictures of all the tourists taking cheesy photos trying to "hold up" the tower. ^_^

Pretty cool to see in person!

Afterwards, we walked back to the train station and caught the next train to Florence. We're staying at the Academy Hostel, which is RIGHT next to the Duomo! So cool! And it's a really cool place, facilities are nice, and staff is friendly! For the first time we don't have bunk beds! The only downside is that we can't get wifi from our room. Again. :( After we settled in, we went in search of a good gelato place Stephanie found. It's called Vestri, and it had the BEST Stracciatella (my go-to flavor) gelato I've had in Europe so far! ^___^ Definitely going back again before I leave!

My phone wouldn't focus on the gelato :(

At night, we went to a pizza place called O Vesuvio, which apparently was featured on Jersey Shore! (Cast members worked there over the summer or something) We shared a pizza with tomato, mozzarella, wild boar salami (!) and truffle oil! Yummm. Then we crossed the bridge and hiked up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which has an amazing view of the city! And we got some great night shots of the city and Duomo.

You can see Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo! (And forgot what the other towers were haha)

On our way back, we passed a cute gelateria, so decided to get our 2nd gelato of the day! But this time I felt like getting something fruity. And it was really cute: they had a wall full of pictures of celebs eating gelato! (Dunno if it was theirs or just random photos; I'm thinking the latter) They're pretty funny to look at though! Then we crossed Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge, and on our way back to the Duomo we passed a sweets shop called Gilli! They had macarons, so I bought 2 to try, but they weren't very good :( (Thus, feeling fat now) So disappointingggg. But the shop was super cute!

How many celebs can you recognize? :P

Gilli! Looks super cute, but the macarons were overpriced and not impressive :(