Beach Day!

Saturday was Beach Day! Totally should be a holiday ;) Christina, Sarah, Jessica, Lauren, and I went to Viareggio- about an hour and a half train ride west of Florence. Fun fact: In Italy you have to pay to use the bathrooms at train stations! Luckily I didn’t have to go but thought that was strange. Our train to Viareggio was two stories! Amazing views on the way… Pictures on Facebook J Train drama there and back though… see previous post!

Once in Viareggio, we had to walk a ways down to the private beaches then over to the free public ones but had trouble getting to the public ones. The private ones were only about $5 each so we just paid for it instead and it wasn’t even too crowded! The water was a bit cold but it was the Mediterranean/Tyrrhenian Sea (?? Don’t really know where they differ…) so still amazing. J Most the men wore speedos. :/ There were a lot of annoying persistent vendors wandering the sand who kept trying to sell us bracelets, purses, soccer balls, sticky tattoos, and massages. L Christina and I got lunch at a pizzeria and a gelato before sunning- which was so relaxing and perfect! We could hear the waves and Lauren’s iPod, the sun was warm, and there was a nice breeze so we didn’t overheat. I know I fell asleep at least once. J

We must have looked a bit confused on our walk back because two Italian guys actually asked if we needed help and if we were looking for the train station. They gave us directions and were very nice! All the people we encountered today were very polite, much more so than in Florence, I’m guessing due to less tourists there. Cute/strange siting: a puppy black poodle sitting on a lunch table between two guys talking at a café! They weren’t eating so I guess it wasn’t totally unsanitary but was odd… there was a placemat and everything! They were right in front of the counter too so the workers could see them with the dog on the table. Plus it was inside! Though dogs are allowed in a lot of places in Italy I have noticed.

I got a little pink but tanner overall (I actually have light tan lines!) and had fun and relaxed so Beach Day was definitely a success and a cheap adventure! J