At the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

On our last morning in Pisa, after a too-late-night-out celebrating the conclusion of the week long school that Doc was teaching at, we decided to do what most people would do following a night of a lot of beer and a 1:00 am kebab dinner - pay 15 euro a piece to go to the top of a tower that leans hazardously to the left...or is it the right...depends on what direciton you're facing I guess...

...oh whatever you get the point.

We went to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It was a very last minute decision as we had to check out of the hotel within the hour, and we hadn't bought our tickets yet, but we were lucky enough to grab the last few spots for the 10:30 am tour.

The way up was narrow, and the marble steps were beautifully worn down in the center. When you got to a part of the tower that leaned (because the stairs are a spiral to the top), it felt like you were being propelled downhill despite the fact that you were clearly walking uphill...

The Duomo and Bapistry behind me...

Bar Duomo down below...

If you ever get to Pisa, please please please go to the top of the Tower. Yes, it's 15 euro a person and yes you are sharing it with 40 other people on a strict 30 minute time limit, but it was worth it. In fact, I'm hoping this was not my last time going to the top of the tower.

After our descent, we grabbed a last minute gelato (it was the best walnut and pistachio gelato I've ever had), and went to the car to embark on the next part of our journey to Monchiero in Piedmont. What we didn't realize was that we were driving right into a huge freak snowstorm on the Mediterranean Coastline that would follow us to Piedmont...  

Duh duh duhhhhhhh!!!

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey

Inside the Duomo in Pisa, Italy.

So one good thing about going to Italy in January? No lines, and either free or reduced admission to the sights. For instance, entry into the Duomo is free from November to February.

Unfortunately my pictures don't do it justice, but it is beautiful in this building. Even if you have to fork up the 2 euro entry free in the months that are not Novmeber - February, I say do it.

The paintings inside are big and bright and dark, in only the way that religious art can be beautiful and scare the bejeezus out of you at the same time.

And thanks to the Medici's, there is gold everywhere.

Like in this ceiling...

...it's 24 karat gold, because the Medici's were ballers.

Crazy stairs just below the dome...

Go to Pisa.

Go inside the Duomo.

And go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

(spoiler alert)

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey

Wandering in Pisa, Italy.

Have I mentioned before that Pisa is one of my favorite cities in Europe, if not my favorite? I think Doc feels the same way after a conversation we had over apertivos at Bazeel on this most recent trip to the city that boasts a lot more than just an architectural blunder turned famously infamous.

We like Pisa so much so that we've even had the discussion of "where else in Europe could we see ourselves living," and Pisa, so far, would be the frontrunner.

Maybe it's the fact that I've never seen a place where more people ride bikes and scooters than drive cars...

...or the fact that I'm a real sucker for sweet graffiti...

...and little windy streets...

...but there's just something about Pisa that makes Doc and I feel right at home.

And I almost got through this whole post without putting up a picture of the tower...



...so close!

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey