This summer I did the unthinkable by booking a last minute holiday and I ended up in Pisa!
Booked on a Friday morning and departed on Saturday in the wee hours of the morning. Luckily for me I didn’t need to buy any clothes as I have so so many it’s beyond unreal! So all I had to do was pick and choose what I wanted to bring.
Filling up at Gatwick before take-off
My brother thinks a hotdog is the most appropriate breakfast
I was flying with Thomson after they had a bundle of seats left on a flight so they were all super cheap returns. I thought Thomson was going to be rather plush (I’ve only flown British Airways (20 years ago) Ryanair and First Choice, but Jesus Christ what a terrible plane. Ryanair was Virgin Atlantic looking in comparison! I couldn’t sit straight for one! I read reviews before I left, and thought folks were exaggerating but hell to the no, it’s all true. It’s awful. Really, really awful!
The calm before the storm…
Anyway on touchdown in Pisa the heat hit me immediately, and I was in full holiday mode!
I stayed in the Hotel Verdi, a 4* hotel close to town but still quiet enough. In fact the location was perfect. Every road off the main road has a traditional old Italian style flavour and this hotel was no different. I’m used to the apartment style beach holiday places but even though there’s no pool as it’s not that kind of place. I really loved the old rustic style of the building.
Hotel Verdi
We went out straight away and walked down the main high street to the train station and were met by a large water fountain which is where people just ‘hang out’ all night, drinking and chilling. McD’s and an Italian cafe is open till late so you really can just sit there all night!
Water fountain in the main square
The next say we headed to the beach. You had to get a 15 minute bus but I actually enjoyed the fact that it made me explore. I’m not a city break person, but I really loved Pisa and it’s old cultural heritage. So many reviews online slated Pisa as ‘a dump’ with ‘nothing there’, but I really disagree. The beach strip was loooooooong, and started at the Marina Di Pisa and ended up miles down at another resort and town so there were many sides to Pisa outside of the city centre.
My second home named after me of course!
The beach was below the rocks
This is the bit there the locals sit all day catching fish
They actually use them! The beach is so tidy!
We didn’t go further than the Marina as my mother doesn’t like travelling much but I would’ve loved to have explored just that little bit more.
*Choo-choo*
It wasn’t dead.. it was having a siesta…
No I didn’t have a go as the horses looked depressed
Building works = creative front sheet
I did visit the leaning tower but I didn’t go up it as I really wasn’t that interested. The area was buzzing though. So many different kinds of people from all over the world attempting to ‘lean’ the tower in a mad set of ways. The whole area has a really great atmosphere and on days where I just wanted to chill out and people watch I found myself going back to the tower area and chilling for a few hours.
I didn’t have any but my brother said it wasn’t nice!
I went up to the swimming pool area one day, well attempted to, and I took the long scenic route and discovered a graffiti lined tunnel that look really cool! I gave up walking once I got to the other end of the tunnel as there was a massive greenery area at least a mile long that I had to walk, and I’d already walked a couple of miles and it was roasting! It was also siesta time so no-one was around!
I found some cool shops on my travels! A 3 shop, MaxMara, Douglas (where I got a neon nail polish in the sale), Zara (where I got a chic blazer jacket in the sale), Guess by Marciano and an Apple shop down the most unreal alleyway. There’s no way you would find it if you were looking. I wonder why the hell it’s down an alley and not on the main strip like the others. I only found it as I forced myself down corners I had no place being.
It’s LUSH baby!
It’s SALE time!
Look at the window above the shop!
It’s actually not that cheap…
Apple shop
I can honestly see Pisa as my ‘go to place’ to unwind and de-stress. I think it’s a wonderful place with so much character. People chill out all night by the water fountains drinking beer and just simply doing nothing. My kind of life.
