I’m not going to lie, I made a two day stop in Pisa before Madrid solely to get a picture with the Leaning Tower. Being that it’s only a 45 minute train ride from Florence, how could I not?!

I was grateful to be in a place that didn’t have a long ‘must see’ list – there was no rushing, scheduling or prioritizing to be done. I arrived in Pisa yesterday afternoon and spent time connecting with friends and family before beginning work. I woke up early this morning and leisurely strolled through the plazas on my way to the tower.

I saw a couple trying to take a selfie and offered them a picture taking trade. It turns out they are from San Jose… small world indeed. Then in line, I met a lovely mother and daughter from Los Angeles. I spent most of my morning chatting on top of the tower and touring the cathedral with them (this was the first real conversation I have had in person in 5 days). I hope one day, I get to experience a trip like this with my own mother.

In the past three days, I have seen the number 23 everywhere. It’s such a significant number to my family, that I actually have it tattoo’ed in a clock on my wrist. Seeing it in random places brings me comfort and always seems to happen when I am truly in need of that guidance.

It’s been hard to make it through each day knowing that I can’t share it with the one person I want to talk with the most. It’s nice to have someone that cares about every bit of your day – the funny accidents… the trivial complaints… the moments that make you sad, angry or happy… even the most mundane moments. This is the worst and loneliest part of breaking up.

Moments in Pisa:
-I strolled the streets of Pisa early in the morning, happening upon a busy farmer’s market, quaint shops and adorable coffee houses.
-I climbed 250 steps up a 7 tiered spiral staircase to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the gravity of the tilt and the wear of the stairs actually making me feel like I was navigating my way home after a long night of drinking.
-The Pisa Cathedral is surprisingly the most stunning church I have visited in Europe, it brought me to tears (granted, that’s not difficult to do these days).
-I got completely lost and had given up the search of a mural I really wanted to see. In defeat, I rounded the corner to get gelato and it was right there in front of me. The Tuttomondo mural on the Sant’Antonio Abate church by Keith Haring reminded me that I am a part of something bigger than myself.
-5 minutes after I stepped in the house for work, it started to thunder and rain heavily… for once I wasn’t stuck walking in it (my newly purchased rain jacket has already paid itself off tenfold)! It always seems to rain only on my last day in each place of Italy I have been.

Food Highlights:
-my final meal of Italy, spaghetti alla carbonara (I had to get my favorite one last time)
-eating my last gelato and sipping on a cappuccino while watching a street performer that made me laugh for the first time in 6 days (http://youtu.be/LJ_2stcelZc)

Language Highlights:
the are two phrases I had to repeat this week, seemingly harmless but incredibly heartbreaking given the situation
–I love you: ti amo
–Goodbye: arrivederci

AIRPORTS: 13
FLIGHTS: 15
TRAINS: 8
BUSES: 3
STATES: 7
COUNTRIES: 6
CONTINENTS: 3
DAYS TRAVELING: 112
CURRENCIES: 5