I loved waking up in Pietrasanta and going for a walk in the town, looking for fresh bread for breakfast. The town was pretty quiet, at 8am, but slowly people started taking the patio seats at the cafes. After packing, we hung out at the main square, waiting for Ophelie.
She came right after and drove us to Pisa, which is about 30 minutes away. We took small roads along farms and mountains with castles and villages. A real Tuscany landscape.
The girls were super excited to see the leaning tower of Pisa, especially Sofia, who learned all about it on a TVO Kids show. It was my second time here, but it was still fun to see the tilting tower. We tried to climb up the tower, but kids under 8 years old are not allowed. So, we all gave up.
We all got to hold the leaning tower, of course.
It's actually pretty funny to walk around seeing all the people doing the same trick.
Everybody looks so ridiculous, but what the heck? We are in Pisa!
The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply the Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its unintended tilt. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.
The tower's tilt began during construction in the 12th century, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft on one side to properly support the structure's weight. The tilt increased in the decades before the structure was completed in the 14th century. It gradually increased until the structure was stabilized (and the tilt partially corrected) by efforts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183.27 feet) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 metres (185.93 feet) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0.06 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase. Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but the tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees.
(source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa)
Pisa is also an university town.
Friends after 20 years.
Angelo Caduto (Fallen Angel)
Igor Mitoraj/ Bronze (2012)
Mitoraj was born on 26 March 1944 in Oederan, Germany. His Polish mother was a forced labourer, while his father was a French officer of Polish extraction. He returned with his mother to Poland after the end of World War II. He spent his childhood years in Grojec. He graduated from an art school in Bielsko-Biała and in 1963 he studied painting at the Kraków Academy of Art under Tadeusz Kantor. After graduating, he had several joint exhibitions, and held his first solo exhibition in 1967 at the Krzysztofory Gallery in Poland. In 1968, he moved to Paris to continue his studies at the National School of Art.
Shortly afterwards, he became fascinated by Latin American art and culture, spending a year painting and travelling around Mexico. The experience led him to take up sculpture.
(source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Mitoraj)
La Lupa Capitolina, The Capitoline Wolf.
The Capitoline Wolf (Italian: Lupa Capitolina) is a bronze sculpture depicting a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome. The sculpture shows a she-wolf suckling the mythical twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. According to the legend, when Numitor, grandfather of the twins, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered them to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them.
(source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Wolf)
Another delicious Italian meal.
After lunch, we had to say goodbye and get the 45 minute train to Florence.
Good bye, my Little Lion, Ophelie!
It was wonderful to see you after 20 years!
Thanks for the hospitality and we hope to have you guys over to Canada soon.
In Florence we decided to stay at the fancy Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, with my parents' tour group. It's not our style - we prefer apartments - but it was logistically easier to stay at the same place.
http://www.hotelmediterraneofirenze.com/
We are looking forward to explore Florence tomorrow!
Buena notte!
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