The Tilting Tower of Pisa: Part Due

June 16th is a holiday in Pisa. We will come to find that every third day is a holiday in Italy. So often there are celebrations and festivals, which is good. The stores and gas stations being closed, is not so good. The other thing Italians do that I think Americans need to adopt the habit of is to take the day AFTER the holiday off. That way, they have a day to recover from their celebrating. Can you imagine? You would get the Fourth of July off to picnic, and then the fifth of July as a bonus to sleep off the hangover and sunburn you got from the Fourth.

In addition to the holiday plus one, they also have a time during the day called a reposo. Basically, it's like a Mexican Siesta. Restaurants and stores close. You need a loaf of bread at 1pm on a Tuesday to have with your lunch? You can't just run down to the local bakery (which is FABULOUS, by the way). You have to wait until it reopens at 4pm in the afternoon. The mall is closed on Sunday, and then doesn't reopen until after 2pm on Monday. Gas stations? Well, let's just say plan ahead.

OK...back to Pisa. We (ok, I) was enchanted by the European streets and architecture. My oldest son just wanted to find the "Tilting Tower of Pisa." After twists and turns, we arrived at the Piazza Del Miracoli. Once again, following the crowds proved to be the best way to get to where we wanted to go. Who needs travel books when you can play "follow the tourists?"

From the angle we arrived, it looked like someone was lying when they called the tower "leaning." That thing looked straight as an arrow. I have to say, I was disappointed...at first. But then, we walked a little further. The tower truly does earn it's name. That thing REALLY leans. I'm not talking "a little to the left." It is amazing that it didn't topple a couple hundred years ago. The piazza was filled with people having their picture taken as they "hold up" the tower. I kept saying to DH, "we are actually HERE!" (A phrase I will repeat about as often as I sing "The hills are alive..." when we eventually get to the Alps.)

The buildings surrounding the tower were no joke either. To think that those buildings have been around hundreds of years before the US was even a country. It was an architects version of Disney World.

Ciao' for now!