The Leaning Tower

I made it to Italy safely yesterday and found my hotel and saw the city of Pisa. I am in love with Italy. I do not know if it was the balmy weather, walking along the streets or if it was the Gelato. Now there in Gelato and there is Gelato and I have had both since I have been in Pisa. I went to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and I cannot believe they let us go all the way to the top!
It was scarier than the Space Needle, the Eiffel Tower and Stratosphere in Las Vegas, the Empire State Building and all the church towers I have climbed! I really felt like I could have fallen over the edge and taken the shaky railing with me! LOL sorry for the details Mom and Melissa! Amazing view and well worth the 15€.
I also saw the Baptistry and the Duomo--amazing inside and brighter than most Cathedrals I have been in lately. Last night I decided to eat in my room--not as pathetic as you would think...I stopped by a little shop on my way back to the hotel and got artichoke hearts, a variety of olives, salami, cheese, bread and limoncello. It was a really good dinner and I had enough left over for lunch today. My hotel is actually really nice and I have a bathtub...it is the first since I have been in Europe. I feel a little weird walking around and going to the lobby because everyone dresses so posh and the lobby is very fancy. Anyway, it was a great first day in Italy!!

Today I decided to find the beach that I saw when I flew in. I walked around Pisa in the morning and had a cappucino at a local cafe before catching a bus to the beach. I got off way down where it was sandy rather than rocky. I was excited when I got to the beach because there were people playing volleyball...I was disappointed when I realized there was no net so I headed for the water. I noticed that nobody was swimming in the water so I chose to just wade in a little. I started walking down the beach, enjoying the breeze, the warm weather, the sun beating down, the sand between my toes and the cool water coming in with the waves.

After walking for a while I noticed more volleyball and this time there was a net. I went up and sat on my towel to watch. I didn't play with the people I was watching, but when they were done the next group welcomed me to play with them. It was a lot of fun. I ate sand big once and it took a long time to get it all out of my mouth and some did not come off until I took a shower. Have you ever had sand in your gum? We played three games and then it was time for them to go and I needed to hunt down some water. I walked the rest of the way down the beach and stopped for gelato (not
gelato) and made it to the end of marina di pisa. I caught the bus back into Pisa and walked around a new part of the city and then headed back for a shower. I think all the sand is gone! I did not bring my laptop on this trip so I probably will not be able to post pictures until I get back to Poland. I have already taken 150 photos--I did not know Pisa would captivate me so much.



Sidenote:I can remember doing a report on Pisa when I was in elementary school and now I am here seeing it in person!! I cannot believe that I am in Italy, enjoying every second without a major plan and not stressing. I even found myself humming as I walked back to the hotel. Family vacation 2012? Everyone start saving your money. Gelato is between 2€ and 4€(with a big waffel cone) so make sure you reserve enough for that!!

Love to all and take care.