This is post number nine about our Italian trip. The previous posts are:
In addition to the canals of Venice, the ruins of Pompeii and the splendor of Rome, the other place that caused both girls to choose Italy as our destination was the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Pisa lies right on the rail line between Rome and our final stop of the grand tour: the Cinque Terre. So we stopped there for a few hours along the way.
On the train from Rome to Pisa we happened to have a compartment with fold out sleeper seats. Even though it was only 10:00 am, we of course had to fold out the seats just for the novelty. Italians gave us some strange looks, but it sure was comfortable!
Once in Pisa we walked about 20 minutes or so from the station to the complex where the Duomo, Baptistry and Tower are. When Carol and I were there in 2001 the tower was still undergoing its most recent stabilization and it was not open. Now the restoration and stabilization are complete and it is open to tours. Entry costs a fortune ($18 each), but of course it's what you've come to see so you fork it over.
It's interesting climbing a tilted staircase. I leaned against the wall many times. There was one terrified woman at the top who had been convinced to climb it by her friend but was subsequently paralyzed by fear.
There are great bells at the top. Unfortunately we were only allowed to stay at the top for about ten minutes (entry to the tower is timed, every half hour) and they kicked us off the top very shortly before the bells rang.
After the tower we toured the Duomo. It is filled with gorgeous paintings.
Then we spent a few minutes recreating photos from 2001, shopped for souvenir t-shirts and then found the bus back to the train station to continue our journey to the Cinque Terre.
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