Great day!

Today was probably our very best day yet!! We started off touring Pisa--home of the famous leaning tower. It was 18 euro to climb to the top but the view was worth it!! Equilibrium was definitely messed with!!! In Pisa, today is considered New Year's Day. It is 9 months from Christmas Day so they celebrate this festival with a very elaborate parade of medieval costumes and instruments and horses. The procession led through town and into the major cathedral. Very cool to witness this event since it only happens once per year!!! I captured the start of the parade from the top of the leaning tower!!

After that, on to Lucca. It is a very pedestrian friendly city because it is surrounded by walls. Only residents with permits may have cars. Lucca is famous for being the birthplace of Puccini, a great Italian opera composer. Students had about 4 hours to explore on their own. And again all made it back on time!!

We had another performance tonight in a small village in Tuscany. We ate a homemade meal in the church basement (Italian pot luck) and the food was delicious!!!! We sang Va Pensiero as a thank you (our tour guide's request) and they smiled and sang along. Our tour guide was holding up her cell phone so her mother in Venice could hear! It was very touching! She's been very stoic this whole time and she shed a tear for Va Pensiero!! She might like us after all! Or at least our music!

The concert was awesome and jam packed. We were part of the 33rd annual international music festival. The "opening act" was the home town adult choir. They were excellent and it was great that we could all hear each other. Very, very moving. Students had such a great time. It was a wonderful reminder about why we are here!!!

Buona Sera! Have to be up in 4 hours....