Day 7 - Thursday April 20, 2023 - Pisa Italy

By Ellen Outten


                                                           

It was a busier day than yesterday, that's for sure.  Our bus left the ship at 8 am.  We were docked in Liverno overnight.  Our bus was headed to Pisa Italy for the included tour "From Tuscany to Pisa".  Our guide was met by another, additional guide who walked us around the square and gave us a lot of history.  I'll say one thing, Viking hires some great tour guides.   

We stopped first to look at the baptistry and the church.  Then, of course, the reason we came.  It's interesting that from certain angles, it doesn't look as if it's leaning as much.   But from the perfect vantage point, it's definitely leaning.

We were early and pretty much had the grounds to ourselves for all the picture taking we wanted.  This was enough for today.  

Somewhere along the way, after all the picture taking and during our free time I lost my cell phone.  I had it in a holder around my neck.  The holder was still around my neck, the cell phone was gone.   I still think I would have heard it had it dropped.   So, pickpocket?   Not sure.  The good news, it wasn't my wallet with my credit card or ID.  The bus was leaving, but i double backed over my tracks but with no success.

We arrived back at the ship and I went into the town of Liverno and had to buy another cell phone.  I may have some knowledge of software and how things work, but I am no hardware expert.  After two hours on the phone with Verizon, compliments of Viking letting me use their phone, since my new phone wasn't working, I learned that the phones bought in Italy do not have the correct SIM card.   So, I can take pictures (VERY IMPORTANT) and if I have WIFI (as on the ship), I can receive email.  Until I can get to another port, and have enough time, and find another phone store that sells pre-paid SIM cards, I have basic abilities on the new cell phone.

Some little good news, Verizon is sending a new US SIM card to my house so I can install theirs when I get home.  They also started a claim for me to get reimbursed for the purchase of the phone.  I think they're going to send me a replacement for the lost one.  So, I'll have TWO????   Not sure about that.  Anyway, when in Rome, oh yes, going there today, you have to be flexible. so I'll deal with the situation as it arises.  

I still have my laptop and have more abilities on that so I'm able to write this easily.   
Onward, The Sistine chapel and the Vatican Museums await us.  
12,998 steps yesterday, mainly backtracking looking for my phone.



Had to do the "push" thing at the Tower.  It's a must!


The baptistry in Pisa next to the leaning tower (the bell tower)

The Cathedral d Pisa
 




Dinner tonight was at Manfredi's the Italian specialty restaurant.   The steam mussels and the mushroom soup were delicious.  I ordered Veal Marsala.   It didn't look like any Marsala that I ever had.  It was good, but it was just a breaded veal tenderloin.  Dessert was Tiramisu.  Excellen!


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