Florence or Lucca/Pisa - Page 2 - The DIS Discussion Forums

TLSnell1981 · 03-01-2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibbidibobbidibecky

We did Pisa and Vernazza in 2011. We did not climb the tower though, but if you really want to see Cinque Terre and Pisa, it's possible. We screwed up on our train going from Pisa back to La Spezia, but if we hadn't d!

I'm not sure, if the area has been completely restored (flood 9/11). I know, many shops and restaurants were open last spring, but much of the area still needed a lot of work.

bibbidibobbidibecky · 03-01-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLSnell1981

I'm not sure, if the area has been completely restored (flood 9/11). I know, many shops and restaurants were open last spring, but much of the area still needed a lot of work.

From what I have read (Rick Steves etc.) it's supposed to be back up and running by April '13, so here's hoping. I was heart-broken when I read about the floods. Vernazza was a highlight of our trip and I hope to go back and do the Via Del Amore this year. But you are right, people need to check the parks site for updated info on the trails.

java · 03-01-2013, 10:11 AM

I'll vote Florence as well. I have been twice. Loved it both times and still have not seen it all. *Oh that darn Duomo!

Pisa I have not been since many years ago- like 30. And it was a tourist trap then. *I was only 15 though so the history may have been lost on me. I don't remember much besides taking the picture- and lots of restaurants.

TLSnell1981 · 03-01-2013, 10:58 AM

Our granddaughters were 11 and 14 for their first European vacation. There is much, that went unappreciated at the time. But as they learn more about the particular area (in school or through movies)...it's like, ""wow, I danced in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, I saw La Primavera and the Gates of Paradise or walked through the Colosseo....." It sparked an interst, they might not otherwise have had.

OP, the boys might enjoy the fact, that il Camposanto Monumentale is built around soil brought from Golgatha during the Crusades...and knights are buried there!

Meghatron · 03-01-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLSnell1981

OP, the boys might enjoy the fact, that il Camposanto Monumentale is built around soil brought from Golgatha during the Crusades...and knights are buried there!

I'm a girl and I also would have enjoyed that. Just sayin'.

gatorfreud · 03-01-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibbidibobbidibecky

We did Pisa and Vernazza in 2011. We did not climb the tower though, but if you really want to see Cinque Terre and Pisa, it's possible. We screwed up on our train going from Pisa back to La Spezia, but if we hadn't done that we could have easily squeezed in two towns, which was our original plan. Just FYI...it is possible!

Good to know! I am going to watch you guys closely this summer to see what time I can reasonably get to Pisa and book my climb time for that (we aren't until 2014). Then maybe I can get some Cinque Terre in! I realy just want to go to 1st two towns, I think I'm ok with that. For sure the whole place will be on my next time list, esp. after I saw these photos!! She has two awesome posts!

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsn...re-part-2.html

ldo · 03-01-2013, 04:51 PM

for your kids' ages---Pisa. My 9 yr olds remember the Tower and could not tell you 1 thing about Florence. This summer, they want to get back and climb it--you have to be either 8 or over 8. If age 8 is OK, I highly suggest climbing the Tower. We also loved Lucca--maybe a bit boring for kids, unless you have time to rent bikes and ride around on the top.

TLSnell1981 · 03-01-2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meghatron

I'm a girl and I also would have enjoyed that. Just sayin'.

I did too! I

art and history.

JimmyJackJunior · 03-01-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfreud

Good to know! I am going to watch you guys closely this summer to see what time I can reasonably get to Pisa and book my climb time for that (we aren't until 2014). Then maybe I can get some Cinque Terre in! I realy just want to go to 1st two towns, I think I'm ok with that. For sure the whole place will be on my next time list, esp. after I saw these photos!! She has two awesome posts!

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsn...re-part-2.html

Wel assuming the timing is the same as this year the trains leaving at 8:07 and 8:20 are probably infeasible. The 9:19 gets you in at 10:17 at Pisa Centrale. You are still a bus/taxi ride away. You need to check in 15 minutes prior to your climb and you can climb every 15 minutes. I would say you can climb at about 11:15 allowing for a little bit of delay.

gatorfreud · 03-01-2013, 07:13 PM

Hmmm... ok so maybe we climb at 12 or 12:30, done 1:30, back to ship area by 3? That still gives a few hours, maybe I can squeeze something in! I could even bump it up a bit, but I figure we will look around at the rest of the stuff in tower area, so we will do that first, building in a cushion as well.

Maybe!?!? That would be so awesome.

Thanks!

JimmyJackJunior · 03-01-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfreud

Hmmm... ok so maybe we climb at 12 or 12:30, done 1:30, back to ship area by 3? That still gives a few hours, maybe I can squeeze something in! I could even bump it up a bit, but I figure we will look around at the rest of the stuff in tower area, so we will do that first, building in a cushion as well.

Maybe!?!? That would be so awesome.

Thanks!

Honestly I don't think it works. Even if you are back by 3 you are still starting your travelling again. Maybe if you had a car ready to pick you up at La Spezia. Think you would be better combining Lucca with Pisa though.

gatorfreud · 03-01-2013, 11:42 PM

waaaah... now I am trying to figure out if we can squeeze Pisa in on our way from Rome to Venice in our pre-cruise week.

Doubt it. Boo.

lilpooh108 · 03-02-2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfreud

waaaah... now I am trying to figure out if we can squeeze Pisa in on our way from Rome to Venice in our pre-cruise week.

Doubt it. Boo.

You can if you decide to train to Rome from either Pisa or La Spezia instead of going back on the ship, and catch the train to Rome. Then you meet back on the ship after your Rome day.

gatorfreud · 03-02-2013, 12:16 PM

No, I'm not going to miss the ship... we are planning on starting in Rome, then Venice, then Barcelona to get the ship. (arriving a week early). If we could knock out Pisa then, it would free up my port day for Cinque Terre. But going Rome-Pisa-Venice seems too hard. So I will try to squeeze in on Cinque town after Pisa on the boat, or (sigh) save it for next trip. Again.

Kim

TLSnell1981 · 03-02-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfreud

But going Rome-Pisa-Venice seems too hard. So I will try to squeeze in on Cinque town after Pisa on the boat, or (sigh) save it for next trip. Again.

Kim

Not really. You can take the fast train..Roma-Pisa in 2 1/2 hours. It's about 3 1/2 hours Pisa-Venezia. We nap on the train.

03-01-2013, 10:58 AM	#19
TLSnell1981 TinkLoves Boo Boo Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9,710	Our granddaughters were 11 and 14 for their first European vacation. There is much, that went unappreciated at the time. But as they learn more about the particular area (in school or through movies)...it's like, ""wow, I danced in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, I saw La Primavera and the Gates of Paradise or walked through the Colosseo....." It sparked an interst, they might not otherwise have had. OP, the boys might enjoy the fact, that il Camposanto Monumentale is built around soil brought from Golgatha during the Crusades...and knights are buried there! __________________ "Strangely enough, it all turns out well. How? I don't know. It's a mystery." Shakespeare in Love

03-01-2013, 07:13 PM	#25
gatorfreud DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,320	Hmmm... ok so maybe we climb at 12 or 12:30, done 1:30, back to ship area by 3? That still gives a few hours, maybe I can squeeze something in! I could even bump it up a bit, but I figure we will look around at the rest of the stuff in tower area, so we will do that first, building in a cushion as well. Maybe!?!? That would be so awesome. Thanks! __________________ Me DH DS9 DS7 6/04, 7/06 - Pop Century 12/06 - MVMCP, Contemporary 3/07 - All Star Sports 7/07 - Disney's Vero Beach 11/07 - MVMCP, POR and Coronado Springs 1/08 - Disneyland 3/08 - Camping at Fort Wilderness 6/08 - Saratoga Springs and SWW! 10/08- DLR, GCH no kids! 11/08 - DLR, DLH Thanksgiving 4/09- Off site 6/09 - CBR and Poly 9/09- DLR, DLH

03-01-2013, 11:42 PM	#27
gatorfreud DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,320	waaaah... now I am trying to figure out if we can squeeze Pisa in on our way from Rome to Venice in our pre-cruise week. Doubt it. Boo. __________________ Me DH DS9 DS7 6/04, 7/06 - Pop Century 12/06 - MVMCP, Contemporary 3/07 - All Star Sports 7/07 - Disney's Vero Beach 11/07 - MVMCP, POR and Coronado Springs 1/08 - Disneyland 3/08 - Camping at Fort Wilderness 6/08 - Saratoga Springs and SWW! 10/08- DLR, GCH no kids! 11/08 - DLR, DLH Thanksgiving 4/09- Off site 6/09 - CBR and Poly 9/09- DLR, DLH

03-02-2013, 12:16 PM	#29
gatorfreud DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,320	No, I'm not going to miss the ship... we are planning on starting in Rome, then Venice, then Barcelona to get the ship. (arriving a week early). If we could knock out Pisa then, it would free up my port day for Cinque Terre. But going Rome-Pisa-Venice seems too hard. So I will try to squeeze in on Cinque town after Pisa on the boat, or (sigh) save it for next trip. Again. Kim __________________ Me DH DS9 DS7 6/04, 7/06 - Pop Century 12/06 - MVMCP, Contemporary 3/07 - All Star Sports 7/07 - Disney's Vero Beach 11/07 - MVMCP, POR and Coronado Springs 1/08 - Disneyland 3/08 - Camping at Fort Wilderness 6/08 - Saratoga Springs and SWW! 10/08- DLR, GCH no kids! 11/08 - DLR, DLH Thanksgiving 4/09- Off site 6/09 - CBR and Poly 9/09- DLR, DLH

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Sponsored Links
The DIS Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000

03-01-2013, 10:11 AM	#18
java I am embracing the Turkey Butt We have the mentally insane lab and the incredibly flatulent Bulldog I'm the mean wife Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 19,367	I'll vote Florence as well. I have been twice. Loved it both times and still have not seen it all. Oh that darn Duomo! Pisa I have not been since many years ago- like 30. And it was a tourist trap then. I was only 15 though so the history may have been lost on me. I don't remember much besides taking the picture- and lots of restaurants.

03-01-2013, 04:51 PM	#22
ldo DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,677	for your kids' ages---Pisa. My 9 yr olds remember the Tower and could not tell you 1 thing about Florence. This summer, they want to get back and climb it--you have to be either 8 or over 8. If age 8 is OK, I highly suggest climbing the Tower. We also loved Lucca--maybe a bit boring for kids, unless you have time to rent bikes and ride around on the top.