So, here we are, our last day in Italy. We wake up early for breakfast and to load up the bus again and head out of Florence. Some of us were up a bit late last night…maybe a few too many adult beverages too. But no worries – we are in ITALY! So let the day begin!
The drive to Pisa is much like the drive to Florence from Rome. It is raining again today and chilly. But just something about looking out the windows to see Italy. Just makes it all okay. We arrive in Pisa, now this reminds me more of a touristy stop. We have to park in a large parking lot full of other tour buses and then catch a bus to get to the Leaning Tower. Because it is chilly and wet today, many of the group head into the gift shop building while we wait for the bus and get some hot chocolate. Yummy!
We make it to the plaza. Much like anything else we’ve seen in Italy lined with little shops of souvenirs and post cards. Nice Italian leather. One last chance to buy everything you ever wanted in Italy! The blue sky is really trying to break through, but it is short lived. We pause along the walk to take some photos with the Leaning Tower in the background. It doesn’t seem to be as big as I thought it would be. But it sure is leaning. Matt, with his continued camera envy, has me take photos of him as well. I love it!
We get our tickets and hit the line to wait until it’s our turn to head up to the top. Not sure what to expect. Why didn’t they put elevators in these things way back when? Ha Ha We enter the bottom and it is quite cold and wet in here. The stairs are marble and quite warn. Each step actually looks like someone sat in it for a zillion years – each step has what looks like a perfect imprint of a butt! Makes me giggle, but makes it a challenge occasionally when trying to navigate up those steps! It feels weird climbing these stairs. They are all along the outer edge inside of the structure. So as the tower leans, it almost feels like you are catapulted around that part – almost like it’s super easy to get up that part. Then once you pass the lean, it feels extremely hard to climb. And it feels like you are climbing more than it appeared you would have had to. It’s quite exhausting. And I am in the front of the line – so everyone is behind me! I must keep going… Wow – a marathon runner who can’t climb steps! Anyway, in addition to all of that, there are no railings, so nothing to hold onto while you are ascending (or descending). With it being so wet and the steps being so warn, it is quite challenging in places.
We make it to the first stop – I guess we are about half way up. We must exit to the outside of the tower. I guess this ensures we don’t all have heart attacks as we continue our way up to the top. Plus it allows for those who are up top to actually come down now. We use the same set of steps to come back down as we did to go up. So lord knows you wouldn’t want people ascending and descending at the same time in that small, wet, and uneven stairwell. Anyway, we are outside again and the view is quite pretty. Italy’s buildings all have such a nice warm coloring to them. And some of them obviously are so old. Huge Churches and other governmental type buildings. Through my camera zoom (which is amazing, by the way) I can see a port as well.
After what seems like forever, we are allowed back into the stairwell and up we go again! To the almost tippy top! Once out on the outside again, just one more small set of stairs to ascend and then we are actually on the top. The view is breathtaking. The mountains are off to the East of us. The water to the West. It was a challenge to get up there, but I am really glad I made the climb. Very cool indeed! I could have done without the descending part…always a bit tough on the knees to go back down. And again, the weird feeling when you are headed into the lean. There were some scary moments coming back down out of the tower.
Of course next is lunch! Our last authentic Italian lunch! And yet again, another superb example of Italy’s ability to make and serve some awesome food! And wine!
It’s unfortunately time to head back to Rome. We are warned before we leave that it looks touchy as to whether we will make it or not. With all the rain, there is flooding near Rome. So it is unclear as to whether we can make it back to the airport. Oh, bummer! Stuck another day in Italy? Sigh!
No such luck. But we do decide to take advantage of our time in the bus. It’s a 5 hour drive back to Rome, minimum. So we decide we must enjoy our remaining time enjoying wine and champagne! We stop a couple of times en route and at each stop we load up on bottled beverages. Wow – hard to believe how much fun it can be to drink Italian wines and champagnes! Ha ha Needless to say, the bus ride was AWESOME!
We have to stop for gas at some point, which is the first time we have seen anyone fill up with gas in Italy. I think they said it was something like $15 a gallon for gas there! YIKES! Of course they sell it by the liter…but to make us Americans understand, we are told what it costs in US Dollars per gallon. We do make it to the airport in time and have a couple hours to spare. Thanks to Oscar and the tour company who took care of everything for us. What an amazing trip and such great memories. We all can’t wait to get back on a flight with Ethiopian Airlines so we are sure to get NO sleep on the way home. Our flight doesn’t leave until just after midnight. So come on, let us sleep! Oh well…this time it is Omelet or Crepes! You will eat them and you will like them! And so we did…
And thus ends the adventure to Italy. Thanks again to all you amazing people who shared this experience with me: Gassira, Oscar, Cathleen, Matt, Truela, Alberto, Morocco, Shawn, Lisa, Nolen, Colleen, and Eric. And of course our fabulous tour guides in Rome and Florence. Can’t wait for our reunion trip!
So Ciao for now my friends. If you ever have the chance, Italy is amazing! I suggest you go.
Next up – Thanksgiving at Camp Lemonnier.
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