We left Sorrento to go to Florence. We were to have an hour stop in PISA to see the Leaning Tower and grab a quick lunch.
We crossed to the western side of Italy and bi-passed Rome. We drove along the coast and through the hills and vineyards of Tuscany.
We reach the PISA at 11 A.M. PISA in TUSCANY and this is a beautiful part of Italy to visit. It is a small city with a population of just over 100, 00 people.
Just before we arrive ’Chico’ went to sit in his jump seat and missed it falling onto the steps. When we reach Pisa our Coach stopped in front of the Tower.
’Chico’ jumped up and yelled at me, ’You’re in charge.’ He limped off the bus and went down a small street off the Piazza.
The Tower of Pisa is on the Piazza dei Miracoli and is the bell tower of the Cathedral.
Coach’s are not allowed to stay in the drop off stop for more than 10 minutes. ’Chico’ had not told ’Hans’ where to park the Coach (and using a lot of hand signals and my terrible German), I found out that ’Hans’ had never been to Pisa before. The Police arrived and ordered him to move the Coach. He doesn’t understand Italian, (or English), and looked at me and said in German, ’What are they saying?’ I don’t speak Italian but I knew they were telling him to move the Coach. Luckily one of the Italian Canadians stepped in and we had a 3-way translation of what he should do.
We decided the Italian-Canadian man would go with ’Hans’ to the spot that the Police had told him that Coach’s could park. He and ’Hans’ would come back to the Tower. It was no point in ’Hans’ sitting in a hot bus and we didn’t know if or when we would see ’Chico’ again.
I have no idea why we came to Pisa as the Tower was closed as they were trying to stop it from leaning further. It was propped up by wood with rope all around it.
A City Tour Guide walked up to us and handed us a broacher that said, ’The construction of the Tower began in 1173. The construction was stopped two times and it was not completed until 200 years later. They don’t know the name of the architect. They believed that the inclination of the Tower was part of the project. They now know that they were wrong as the Tower was designed to stand upright. Even if it did not lean it would still be one of the most remarkable bell towers in Europe. It began to incline during its construction. The tried to stop the tilting by using of special construction devices. What we were seeing now was the City’s attempt to use sub-soil in order to significantly reduce the inclination and to make sure that Tower will have a long life.’
We didn’t know when ’Chico’ would return so we took turns going for lunch and then coming back so others could eat. After everyone had eaten he hadn’t returned so we each took turns browsing through the few shops on the Piazza. By now we had been in front of the Tower for 2 1/2 hours.
We weren’t scheduled to do anything but see the Tower. With time on our hands we took turns walking through the Cathedral, (that is behind the Tower). It reminded me of our Legislation Building in Victoria but the Nun who took us through that it was built in a ‘Romanesque Style’ told us. It was pretty with the white marble floors and ceilings. There were hand painted Fresno’s on the domed ceiling.
It was a very hot day and since we had all finished our bottled water I can’t even remember how many bottles of juice and soda pop I drank. I do remember I couldn’t drink any more soda so MM and I walked to a juice stand and had our first glass of freshly squeezed ’blood orange juice’, (at that time we had never heard of a blood orange), and I know we each had a few glass of the juice as it was delicious and helped to quince our thirst.
We taking turns sitting on the ground under the fence, (that kept visitors away from the Tower), because the sun had moved there was a little shade there.
It took four hours for ’Chico’ to come back. He had been in the Hospital Emergency ward waiting to get his broken ribs taped. He sent ’Hans’ for the Coach and came up to thank me for helping him. I asked him, ’Why me?’ and he replied, ’You were the only person who might have been able to help ’Hans’ even though your German is terrible!’
We left Pisa shortly after that making us very late for the City I wanted to see most in Italy.
SOME THOUGHTS:
The people in Pisa were very friendly and helped us as much as they could. If you are planning to visit Italy and want to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa I would check to see if the construction has been finished. If it hasn’t I would give Pisa a pass as there is nothing much to do here.
©LL