To Viareggio (Tuscany Days 7 & 8)

Getting the morning bus to Viareggio (about an hour and a half ride) was a real adventure. No information given to any of the big crowd waiting. When bus doors opened (very late), it was a free for all, with us non-Italian speakers not knowing what was going on. There definitely looked to be more people than seats - which there were! Pauline got on early and saved a seat for me, while I tried to make sure our luggage would be loaded on the bus. After all that, it turned out they allowed standing room so we all got on OK. But it was a bit unnerving.

The bus trip was uneventful, and when we alighted we walked the 10 minutes or so it took to get to the Hotel Katy. Our balcony room was ready so we checked in - a neat balcony with a wicker table and chairs and a view of the beach. After unpacking we took a more leisurely walk along the very long Promenade and had lunch and later dinner at a couple of the largely outdoor cafes that proliferated along the way.

Next day (the 23rd) we did some important stuff: we took our laundry to be washed, found the nearest Supermarket, and visited the Tourist Info office to find out about getting to Pisa and Lucca. When it cooled off a bit, we walked along a different part of the Promenade.