Loved Italy more than any other place I've ever been to. We lived in the heart of Tuscany, 5 minutes outside of Pisa. Drove by the Leaning Tower every single day on our way to work. 10 minutes from the beach, one hour from snowboarding, how much better does it get??? No base housing, everything is in the local economy. We were the only American family within a 3 mile radius where we lived and our Italian neighbors made us feel very welcome and at home. Camp Darby is a tiny little Army post where the Air Force outnumber the Army personnel by about 4 to 1. We were with one of the two AF squadrons stationed there. The BX is tiny, the commissary is only 4 aisles wide, tiny shoppette, but everything you need you can buy at the local Italian stores, anyway. So many outdoor markets for shopping, buy as many knock-off purses as you can! There is a decent gym, movie theatre, pool, camp ground, small school, and a good CDC. Feel the need for some major American company? Drive 3 hours north to Aviano, or 4 hours south to the Navy base in Naples. Either way, you're driving through the most beautiful country. Want to see the rest of Europe? Go to Pisa International Airport and buy a $20 ticket on RyanAir to England, Germany, Austria, etc for a long weekend. The base is always offering trips to the big snowboarding/skiing resorts in Innsbruck, Switzerland, Austria, or weeklong cruises through the Mediterranean around the coasts. Would love to go back!!!!
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