"The rain pis*#d down in Pisa" a Pisa Travel Page by SPW

It was a grey morning and by the time we arrived at the bus station in Lucca it was spitting. Nothing daunted, and completely lacking the rain jackets and umbrellas we had brought from Australia, we boarded the bus. the further we went the wetter it became.
As we disembarked at the Piazza dei Miracoli, we were so relieved to see the African umbrella sellers that we didn't check the route of the return bus. BIG MISTAKE! We bargained down the price of our umbrella and set off to marvel.

We left the Piazza dei Miracoli and made our way further into town, which became less tourist oriented as we went, in the hope of finding somewhere dry and pleasant to have lunch.
In our travels we came across the Piazza dei Cavalieri which was another wonder. Alarge cream building with grey sgraffito decoration housed the old university though it has now grown and spread to occupy many nearby streets. Under the archway into the piazza there were remnants of a fresco, and we were told the clock tower above had been used to brick in, and consequently starve a man many centuries ago. There were several palazzi aroung the piazza, one of which was the ambulance station, and a historic church.
After lunching nearby, we waded back through puddles, our umbrella totally inadequte against the rain and without a map, until we eventually found an appropriate bus stop. From a bridge over the Arno we glimpsed a beautiful small chuch but were past further exploration. Next time! As the next bus wasn't due for some time we sheltered in a bar, using the time to partake of beverages renowned for their ability to warm.