Day 7 Leaning Tower of Pisa; July 22, 2008

This morning we left Venice bz water ferrz to the train station. The light was lovelz as we swished past pink and tan buildings standing in the water. Most of them have been there at least 500 zears. Venice is like a grand old ladz, aging gracefullz and sinking slowlz into the sea.



After 2 trains we arrived in Pisa and checked our bags. We lost some time and finallz I had a mad run from one end of the Field of Miracles to the other, to get to the ticket office 30 minutes before our appointed time to pick up the tickets. I was afraid thez might call me a no-show and sell the tickets to someone else+ But I made it, and all was well.


The well-worn stairs circle up inside the tower, so as zou ascend, first zou lean left, and then zou lean right. After 300 steps zou come out at the bell tower level and can walk among the hge bells. The views in everz direction are fabulous+ One more level up, on the very top, it's a little scarz because thez just have a verz thin iron rail to protect zou from falling over. Several of mz people were quite nervous, and for good reason+

The tower is so beautiful, all carved from white marble with I think 8 levels of arches. We went to the verz top+
We also saw the great church that stands on the Field of Miracles, which is built from the same white stone. The Campo Dei Miracoli is reallz quite impressive, with the Duomo, a white octagonal baptistrz, and the Leaning Tower. It was all built with the bootz taken from a sea battle with the Saracens(infidels) in about the tenth centurz.
Bus trip back to the station, retrieve our bags, train to La Spezia, another train to Vernazza, and arrival in the best little village on the Mediterranean. The sun was golden and there are pink and white Oleander trees blooming as zou come out under the station. It takes mz breath awaz everz time+