The last time I was in Tirrenia it was in October. It was nice but very quiet. I was a little afraid it was a town dying. I was wrong.

It was jam-packed for the week we were there. There was no reserved parking at the hotel and I often found myself parking 1/2 a mile away. In the evening when people were coming into town for dinner, the two roads into town were bumper to bumper for several miles. All of the little eateries were busy and open until well after midnight, every night of the week.

We stayed in the Grand Continental Hotel. It is really nice there. I never really did get used to the time change and was up before sunrise most mornings. I found the young guy working the hotel lobby to speak good English and had some nice chats with him. He also helped with some of the more difficult problems that came up like paying parking tickets (you have to do that at the post office), and replacing broken camera equipment.

I was surprised at how well I managed to negotiate some of the more difficult problems. When I knew what I was going to need I would put together a list of nouns and verbs I expected I would need so I would be ready.

My best lens was smashed in Rome (by a Taxi driver is my best guess) and I had to have a replacement as my only other lens was a simple 50mm. I found the name of a photography store in Pisa from the photomat in Tirrenia. The hotel clerk was able to give me driving instructions to the store which was in what roughly could be called an industrial park. These guys didn't deal with tourists and didn't know a lick of English but I was able to explain what I needed and negotiate the price.

Here is the lobby of the Grand Continental Hotel in Tirrenia:

Here is a BMW Smart Car. There were many of these in Rome. Not so many in Tirrenia, but I noticed this one while out and about. I never really considered my Passat a big car, but you can see one to the left - it's over twice as long.

via Gattici - Gattici Street. The "P" sign marks the Hotel Florida. Compare this picture taken in late June with the picture taken in October 1999. It gives you an idea of how much more crowded it is in the summer.

This is the Hotel's pool. Nice, but usually crowded. They also have swim teams using it in the afternoon.

Camp Darby Elementary School. I took quite a few pics of the base, but didn't particularly like any of them. I do have some panoramas I hope to stitch together one of these days and then insert into this page.

Here is the hotel's beach. In Tirrenia, there are no free beaches. Pay at a beach club to get in. I think I found the entrance to the American beach this time, but I didn't try to go in.

There was a car show at the hotel during the weekend. This is the first time I have ever seen a real TR5.

Sunset from the hotel balcony.

Marina di Pisa. Way off in the distance is Livorno.