I forgot to add my Fodors mission statement, for which I acknowledge Paolo Sarpi, wise Venetian.

“Lies I never tell, but the truth not to everyone.”

I would say "Yes" to Pisa if you haven't been there before. Do I go each time I'm in the region? No, of course not (even though if someone wanted to each time that's ok too). I've only been to the tower once, at dusk. It was closed and I wasn't able to climb up, but it was beautiful against the setting sun and it brought on that special feeling I get when I'm standing in the presence of something significant from the past. (I also happen to be a science geek.) I think if I've never seen it in person, I would put it on my to do list of Tuscany.

Having said that, I agree with those that recommended staying overnight in Lucca instead. It really is a beautiful, charming, walled city and I especially enjoyed the evening view as I was walking around the city on top of the walls.

Someone has been partaking in the Sherbet dip again.

This is a social network, for those who aren't comfortable in a social environment, I suggest buggering off to their own blog where they can wallow in their self importanice.

My angel hat remains intact as StCirq has found some adjectives I didn't have the nerve to use.

BTW

Back to the subject.

Most sane travellers would agree that Pisa is a day trip. Most sane travellers with a sense of humour will probably take a photograph showing their friend or dearly beloved pushing the tower back up.

I clearly missed something - what is the issue with taking your picture holding up the tower?

It's a funny pic - I like to have pics with a sense of humour as well as artistic ones!

What would I use for my profile pic on facebook if I didnt take funny pics when travelling??? ;)

Jamikins

You've missed a huge storm in a small teacup.

Or is it a small storm in....

Just all part of the friendly community we have here.

OMG

I have just seen your profile piccie?

Your insane!

Or sane....as the case maybe.

hahahaha - I know, I just cant stop myself from posting crazy/insane shots of myself on social media networks!

Fodors is quite tame, not even my face! You should see my facebook profile, I think it is currently me posing on a cliff in cinque terre! CRAZY I tell you :)

Wish I had a big cup.

Well said St Cirq !
Do you suppose she may go away now?

I need some ideas on what we see in Pisa before flying to Barcelona.

We travel by train from Monterosso to Pisa.
We fly to Barcelona at 6:30pm.

How far is the train station from Pisa tower?

How long do we need to stroll around the Pisa tower before going to the airport?

Would you recommend something else to take my kids to?
I'm traveling with a 23, 15, 11 y/o kids.

Thanks,
Mia

No Bob, on past experience it is going to get a whole lot worse.

oh dear, didnt mean to cause a big war. Sorry.
I am going to try to get two extra nights at the Ravizza in siena and then we could just rent a car in siena and do a day trip to pisa and lucca from there!

Griffy, I promise, its not you.

I'm starting to wonder if we need some kind of intervention. You know, where a bunch of loving family members get together and confront a person about problem, in the most constructive way possible. Hate the sin but not the sinner, and all that .... The lounge might be a good place.

We have been in the trenches for years and in the words of the great General Allenby, this is a side show of a side show. Not your fault at all Griffy.

I don't feel that Lucca is a day trip, it is a lovely, lovely place. In fact one of my favourite in Italy but there is no wow factor site/sight. To me it is a place to relax and just sink into, it has a great pace. It does combine well with Pisa though.

Thanks for ignoring my post.
I guess bitching about Zeppolle is what Fodor's is intended for.

I am going to try to get two extra nights at the Ravizza in siena and then we could just rent a car in siena and do a day trip to pisa and lucca from there!>>

to get back to the point, [but thanks, St. Cirq for the big smile you put on my face] siena is not the best place from which to do a day trip to Pisa or Lucca. According to viamichelin.it it's about 1 hour 50 mins drive to Lucca, and another 20 mins onto Pisa. [and their time estimates tend to be on the ungenerous side].

I'm not saying not to do it, but it could be a long day. definitely try to fit it into your Florence itinerary if you can.

PS - griffy - YOU didn't start the war. it's been rumbling for a looooong time, with many scurmishes and the odd bit of open warfare. but we love each other really. [well, most of us do].

Pooky - you will get more responses if you start your own thread...tagging onto other huge threads sometimes makes it easy to miss one (especially when there is controversy on the thread). It's nothing personal! And no need to be sarcastic, you will also get more helpful responses by playing nice :)

pookymimi, I can't help with your airport times-someone else? We spent the night both times we were in Pisa. We took a taxi from airport to our hotel (about a 20-minute walk from the Tower) and I think it was less than an hour. Our hotel was about a 10 minute walk from the train station. So it would be about a 30-minute walk from train to tower. Probably no fun with bags.

Again, we were staying in Pisa so just walked up one morning and the earliest reservation we could get to climb was at 3 that day. We spent almost an hour in the church following an amazing tour--it's breath-taking. Again, has anyone ever made on-line Tower reservations?

Can pookymimi store luggage at the train station? If so, you could do that, stroll to Tower area, tour, eat and taxi back to pick up bags and go to airport by taxi or by train (?). You'd need to get to Pisa quite early in the morning to do this I'm thinking. Monterosso is about 2 hours away by train.

Maybe start another thread about this, pookymimi. It looks like a tight visit with all you are trying to do and I'm not fluent about train/airport info in Pisa. The IS a station closer to the Tower but I don't know if you could store your luggage there.

TDudette, thanks! I also went to tripadvisor to get an idea. I will check on a map also.

jamikins on Apr 17, 12 at 2:12pm

Pooky - you will get more responses if you start your own thread...you will also get more helpful responses by playing nice :)

Jaminikis, I'm always nice, but when you see several threads about Italy transformed from a OP question and answers to a completely bitching about Zeppolle it gets old.

I would take a look from an outsider side and see who seems not to be nice. I'm just stating the truth and how you look to people who have nothing to do in the matter. I don't know you at all, but Zeppolle always have constructive things to say about Italy.

Stick around for while pooky and you will understand others perspective as well. It goes both ways. I am not condoning anyones behavior but the longer you are here you will see how people interact.

We are all here to help and give free advice and are not obligated to respond to every post. I read it but can't help because I have no experience with what you are asking. I was trying to help you get the info you require. I guess that's not the help you were looking for?

I certainly provide more info to people who are polite...and will continue to do so. Good luck with your trip, I hope you get the info you require.

oh wow i didnt realize it was that far. Thats a good point. back to the drawing board!

griffy - From Florence, and using the train, you could certainly do Pisa in an afternoon/early evening trip, or a nice full day would be to get the train to Lucca, spend the morning there, buy a picnic lunch to eat on the train, get the train back to Pisa, and spend the afternoon/early evening there, then "home" to Florence for a late supper.

you can book your "slot" for climbing the tower at www.opapisa.it

if you haven't already, I suggest getting hold of the Michelin green guide to Italy - [especially if you can find the old version, that just gave the sights, not hotels or restaurants] - it gives you succinct descriptions of the main sights in every town, the best routes to take and how long it's going to take you.

have a great trip!

awesome thats for the suggestion I will order that right up!

thanks*

>>>I would take a look from an outsider side and see who seems not to be nice.<<<

Keep in mind that one person has many posts deleted and multiple screen names that have been banned.

pooky - You will have to store your luggage unless you can check it with the airline early. There are only two places to store luggage, Pisa Centrale train station and the luggage facility at the airport. The closest station to the tower is Pisa S. Rossore, but it's just as easy to catch the buses outside Pisa Centrale. Pisa Centrale is only a five minute train ride to the airport, but sometimes luggage rooms can have lines so allow a bit extra to pick up your luggage.

Griffy - I agree with annhig about the day trip from Florence except the eating on the train part. I would have lunch in Lucca before catching the train or wait until Pisa. These are old R trains on this route and they don't have tables like the high speed trains. They just aren't very nice and often no AC. You reach Pisa S. Rossore before Centrale when coming from Lucca so I would get off there. After your finished climbing the tower, take the bus to Centrale and train back to Florence.

kybourbon on Apr 17, 12 at 8:10pm

Thanks a lot for the advice for the luggage, I will check into that once there.

>>>I would take a look from an outsider side and see who seems not to be nice.<<<

<Keep in mind that one person has many posts deleted and multiple screen names that have been banned.>

I understand that lots of people here don't like Zeppolle, I've gotten the idea from several threads like this one where after one of her postings everybody goes at her and post after post is about her, losing the intention of the original posting.

I believe had I not brought this up to all of you this would've kept going.

I don't care if jamikins finds me unpolite or not nice because I'm the only one who had the nerve of posting what lots of us think when we don't have a thing to do with the issue, due to not knowing everybody in the forum.

You can keep your advice, don't care, I found you rude as I didn't say anything but the truth.

I've not call anybody a "bitch" and other adjectives and still I was asked to be polite to get advice, what a nerve.
I only said that you've lost the direction of the original post. Tripadvisor sometimes is less hostile than this forum.

moving swiftly on, griffy - my old michelin green guide shows that the main sights in Lucca should take you a couple of hours with another hour for walking around the old town. [there is a plan showing you the route]. as for Pisa, it suggests allowing 2 hours for seeing the piazza del duomo [aka il campo dei miracoli] but you would ideally co-ordinate that with your booking for climbing the tower, for which you need to arrive about 10-15 mins in advance to collect your tickets, put any bags in the lockers [all with their own locks] provided, etc.

I take kyb's point about the picnic on the train. have a nice lunch in Lucca then get the train to Pisa, and spend the rest of the day there.

hope you have a wonderful time.

If I was doing this, I would get an early train to Pisa to see the sights, then a train to Lucca to eat lunch at the wonderful La Buca di San Antonio, then spend a relaxed afternoon walking around Lucca, one of my favourite towns. No museums or must sees, just a lovely place to be, and after lunch you would be very relaxed indeed.

And without Zeppole, I fear blandness would prevail on this board, it's getting like that already. And she bl--dy knows Italy.

I'll go with tarquin's order to end in Lucca. Can one get an online appt. to climbe the Tower????

No argument about zepp's knowledge, tarquin, it's that she rejects people's desires to see the major touristy places and does it in an rather insulting way. Amen.

Hi Griffy! I'll add my 2 cents........as you'll be staying in cities (Siena and Florence) for the rest of your trip, I think you should base yourselves in the countryside during the nights of 8 and 9 July - maybe somewhere near Montalcino or Pienza? There are loads of nice agriturismi in Val d'Orcia. The area is unspoiled. REally beautiful.

Enjoy your trip!

Michael

"I was still asked to be polite to get advice"

In jamikins defence, if you regard your original post as polite then I suggest that you have the same social skills as zeppole and should join her on her blog.