May 25, 2009

The Leaning Tower

First glimpse...

There she is...

leaning, but still standing after more than 800 years.

I remember learning about the tower in grade school...maybe first or second grade. But I never imagined having the opportunity to see it in person...it still seems a bit surreal. 

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My mom wanted to come with me to Italy so
I brought her headshot...Sue poses as a stand-in...

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Teresa & Amee made it to the top!
I can't even begin to tell you how many steps I had climbed by the time we arrived in Pisa....climbing the tower was not for me that day.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

that is a fun headshot! wow..pisa tower, I don't know if I could make it to the top...

alaine@éclectique said...

We were in Sansepolcro, friends went on a day trip to see the leaning tower, came back and said they couldn't find it!! Oh, you wonder!

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

I didn't realize you could go in it. Cool!

Debra said...

Now that's a lot of stairs... My friend and I agreed we had the best meal ever in Pisa- just memorable.

littlebyrd said...

I am loving seeing all of your adventures in travel! Isn't Pisa fantastic?

Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat said...

the rest of my family went to Pisa, but I went with a girlfriend to the spa for the day. we stayed in a traditional Italian spa town called Monticatini terme and "took the waters." Its right on the train line and was filled with mostly Italian families vacationing together. very few americans, lots of dancing in the streets in the evening, absolutely charming....

Elizabeth said...

Hi! MOM!

The twer looks so clean....and crooked.
Splendid!

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Have so loved your travelogue! As Elizabeth said...the tower is so clean and I didn't realize you could go to the top either!

T.Allen said...

I imagine it must have been surreal, like meeting a character from a favorite book.

I should have gotten in on the headshot deal-mom is lucky!

Karen from A`Musements said...

You made me teary and laugh all at the same time with your 'head shot' of your Mom in the photo, Charmaine..... She's GOT to LOVE that!
What an incredible journey you went on and how cool is it to think that something 800 years old is still standing....er, leaning... well, you know what I mean.
GREAT pictures!
xoxo
Karen

Donna Pizzi said...

I first walked up those steps in 1974... memorable, indeed, because I later went to our hotel room and read in Time magazine how Nixon was about to resign (before they could impeach him!)... I'll never forget Pisa for that reason... and, of course, the leaning tower. There was a time when it was closed to pedestrians, so great to know it's open again.
I did a double take when I saw you with your Mom's face over yours. Too cool! Love, D

Jeanne Estridge said...

I'm amazed that they still allow people to climb it. When I was a kid they were saying it was leaning a little more every year, and soon it would be unsafe to enter. They must have figured out how to shore it up.

High Desert Diva said...

My friend Sue is holding up my Mom's face....

Cynthia Pittmann said...

What creamy lightness...like a wedding cake that lost its support! I would love to climb to the top! Imagine that view...dreaming about future trips gives me the motivation to stay healthy!

Charmaine, thanks for sharing your visit to Italy...now (in my dreams)I want to hear some traditional Italian music, eat pasta at a large table, with flickering candle light...and surrounded by warm tones of amber and rose.

Can you arrange to go to a place like that...take some photos and I will live vicariously through you?
No? I guess I will have to create it myself. <3