February 22, 2023 - Prato

Today we did a trial run by train. We went to Prato. It is about a half hour by train and the size of Moncton. We did 2 series of 5 caches as well as a couple singles. It took us all over the old part of the city. We saw all or at least 10 very old churches. They were all free to visit as well as an old medieval castle which gave a great view of the city. We climbed very narrow winding steps to the top which had a walkway with a view all around.

We knew we were not in a touristy area when nobody could speak English. We asked a lady on the street where we could find a place for lunch. She knew a few words in French only. But we finally understood that we had to go back the way we had come and turn right. She told us the closest restaurant was expensive so to continue a bit more. When we entered the restaurant, our waiter also didn’t speak neither English nor French but with the help of the translator app we ordered rigatoni with a lamb sauce. It was good but the bread served before the meal was amazingly good. The waiter told us he had made it and was very pleased to know that we had liked it. Before we left, he brought us a piece in a bag to take home with us.

We were glad to have made a trial run by train. There were long line ups to buy tickets so we bought our tickets for tomorrow’s trip to Pisa. They are open ended tickets. They need to be used on the date posted on the ticket but can be used at anytime to go or come back. Starting at 4:30 in the morning and all day. There are trains leaving for Pisa around every 15 minutes. We have already seen the leaning tower and the square of miracles but have no caches from there.

Fountain in front of train station

Could not figure out what this sculpture was about.

Flowers are rare this time of year.

A section of the old city wall.

Inside for fortress.

A sculpture of the 4 popes during that period.

Nativity scene.

Ven. Benedetto Bacci - Franciscan (1591 - 1659)

Not much room on the sidewalks.

Rigatoni with a lamb sauce.

Later this week they are announcing a few days of rain and cooler weather so we will take time to relax on those days after our trip to Pisa tomorrow..