We left Cannes this morning after a decent breakfast at our hotel. (By way, I'm editing yesterday's post because I completely forgot to mention our actual visit in Cannes.) We had a five-hour drive to Florence. So, we made a few stops along the way!!
We went through more than 100 tunnels on our drive today!
And...we drove through the Alps. Look at that...snow on the mountains! We drove past Monaco but did not stop. We learned that Monaco is the second smallest country - only to the Vatican, which is its own country! Monaco has 30,000 residents and is only 1.64 square miles! They do not have an army. So, France is sworn to protect them in case of need. They have the highest concentration of millionaires and billionaires in the world! It is the sight of Monte Carlo, a huge casino, but residents are not allowed to gamble!?
Monaco is a Principality, meaning it is ruled by a prince - Prince Albert II - who is the son of Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly!
They have the highest life expectancy of any country - 89 years!! They are well known for Formula 1 racing, too!
Lastly, there is basically no crime in Monaco because there is a huge police force and cameras along around the country!! Sounds like a good place to live, huh!?!
After a quick stop for lunch, we drove to Pisa, the capital of Tuscany. Pisa was once a flourishing city. The builders of the tower realized there was a problem when they began the second floor of the building. The tower was then closed for a few years while they figured out how to make it work. It was completed in 1372.
The tower was closed in 1990 for fear that it would fall. After reconstruction, it was reopened in 2008 and is currently stable for at least 200 years!
We always hear about the Leaning Tower, but it is actually part of a trio of buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Plaza of Miracles. The cathedral next to it, Duomo di Pisa, is gorgeous inside and out. The colors on the inside are truly breathtaking!
And the tower itself is surreal. It is really amazing to be able to see it in person! Miriam, our tour guide, challenged us to a contest for the most creative, yet appropriate (hey, these are middle schoolers) picture with the tower. We had some great pictures, but these girls won! Our bus driver, Giovanni, was the final decision maker!
For the next two nights, we are staying in Florence. I believe this is our 5th hotel. Our bags are getting heavier, but we are still making it! I am glad for an early night tonight because we have a long day discovering Florence tomorrow.
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