December 8th 2024.
On a Sunday morning, my 2.45am alarm rudely interrupted my sleep and I couldn't help but regret my decision to fly to Italy for less than 12 hours. As a mother of two, the idea of being so tired seemed absurd, but at that moment, my bed was calling my name louder than a European day trip.
The plan to visit Pisa in a day had been brewing for months. I come from a family of three sisters and the youngest one, Elle, was about to turn 30. My own 30th birthday was celebrated during lockdown at my parents' house, so we did a family murder mystery. But for Elle's milestone, my other sister, Jessie, and I were determined to make it extra special by whisking her away on a glamorous trip.
Paris was our initial dream destination, but the steep price hikes due to the Olympics made us reconsider. And then, someone mentioned Pisa. The thought of indulging in pizza, pasta, and visiting the leaning tower sounded like the perfect way to celebrate. Plus, after some research, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Pisa was compact and affordable. Despite being overshadowed by its popular Tuscan neighbors like Florence and Siena, Lonely Planet described it as "compelling" with a "vibrant cafe and bar scene."
We finally revealed our grand plan to Jessie the day before our trip and she was ecstatic. Fast forward to August 18th, we were rushing through Gatwick airport to catch our EasyJet flight that cost us £215.24 each. We had to resist the urge to indulge in a drink at the airport, fearing that we would end up sleeping through the whole day. But when we landed in Pisa, it was hard to believe that our crazy plan was actually working.
We purchased Pisa Mover return tickets for €13 and hopped on the shuttle that took us to the city center in just a few minutes. The weather was perfect as we strolled across the River Arno towards the leaning tower, pausing to take in the stunning views and admiring the beautiful architecture.
However, our family's notorious trait of getting "hangry" soon started to kick in. The hot weather wasn't helping either, as we began to snap at each other. Thankfully, we stumbled upon a charming café called Food 62, where we found respite from the heat and our tempers were saved. I ordered an affogato, a perfect blend of coffee and ice cream, to kick off our Italian adventure.
Jessie and Elle opted for pastries and fresh orange juice, and with our order restored and the €35 bill paid, we continued our journey towards the leaning tower. It was everything we expected and more. The architecture was impressive, and the tower's lean was evident from the perfect angle. We even attempted to take the famous "pushing" photo, but let's just say that we didn't quite nail it.
After our visit to the tower, we were caught off guard by a sudden downpour. We had never seen anything like it before, and within seconds we were drenched. Along with other tourists, we rushed towards the nearest cafes and restaurants for shelter. But as luck would have it, it was lunchtime and every place was packed. We finally found refuge at Osteria in Domo, where we were welcomed with warmth, delicious food, and a €77.50 bill.
By the time we finished eating, the rain had stopped, and we made our way back to the tower. But as fate would have it, the heavens opened up again. We tried to hide under the overhang of the Cathedral, sharing one €7 umbrella, but it was no use. We were already soaked, so we decided to brave the rain and continue our tour. We browsed through the market beside the tower, picking up souvenirs and eventually made our way to the Museo delle Sinopie museum gift shop. However, we were put off by the expensive prices and decided to call it a day.
With a few hours left, we decided to explore more of Pisa's culinary delights. We stumbled upon a charming café, Pasticceria Salza, where we indulged in Aperols, tiny chocolates filled with tiramisu, and more pastries before making our way back to the station. We then checked off our final item on our list – pizza. At Kinzica, we shared a pepperoni and margherita pizza with olives for €25.50 before heading back to the station and catching our flight back to London.
In total, we spent around £48.09 each on food and drinks, with an additional £10 for the return train tickets. Jessie and I split the cost of the three flights, which amounted to £322. Despite facing three thunderstorms and walking nearly 20km, we had a fantastic time. However, I did learn a valuable lesson – even an extreme day trip requires a change of clothes. You never know when you might need it, even in Italy in August.
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