MARC'S MEMOS
7-31-17
TRIP OF A LIFETIME (Part 4)
The excitement continues. Our next port was Livorno, Italy. This is the port for Pisa and Florence. Our excursion was to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is just one more icon of the many interesting and ancient structures spread throughout the entire country of Italy.
We had to take a motor coach (bus) ride to Pisa as it is roughly ninety minutes from where we docked. It was quite cloudy while we were on the road, but we kept hoping that it would clear up before we got there. No such luck. In addition to that, the bus had to park some distance from the area we were going to visit. As we exited the bus, we were immediately surrounded by vendors trying to get us to purchase souvenirs. They were persistent, but we resisted and proceeded to leave the parking lot and followed our guide. As she walked up the street, she held a sign on a stick high over her head. This was so everybody would be able to find her in a crowd.
We walked about twenty minutes when the first glimpse of the Tower appeared. It was still cloudy when we stopped to get some historic information from our guide. Trying to listen to her was hard because you wanted to start taking pictures and get closer to the attraction. There were a lot of words spoken so we walked a few steps away but kept close enough to stay with our group.
Meanwhile the sun was attempting to assert itself and make it a great day. Guess what? It did! The gray clouds gave way to puffy white ones and a brilliant blue sky. It was magical. The pictures became much more dramatic and beautiful.
Now the real picture taking started. The main reason for this excursion was, of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We took lots of pictures that included the one that everybody takes. You raise your hand and have the camera operator line up the Tower so it looks like you are trying to keep it from falling over. Click, click, click. O.K. Time to see if you got it right. No. Try again. There, that's perfect!
There were other buildings in close proximity, but we did not have much time to explore them. Unfortunately we didn't get all the historical facts as we were concentrating on the Tower. We did take pictures of them though. Then it was off again, down a narrow street to St. Mary's square and more old buildings dating back several hundred years.
After spending some time there, it was time to return to the bus. Another twenty minute walk back, then an attempt to elude the vendors again. We did it. It was easier this time. Now we could sit back and relax as we made the trip back to the ship. We took a peek at some of the pictures we took. WOW!!! The blue sky and white clouds made such a difference in the pictures that they almost looked like postcards you would send back home.
Pisa was such a wonderful sight to see and the excitement of just being there was priceless. It was definitely another check off the old bucket list!
To be continued...
UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE! MARC
TRIP OF A LIFETIME (Part 4)
The excitement continues. Our next port was Livorno, Italy. This is the port for Pisa and Florence. Our excursion was to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is just one more icon of the many interesting and ancient structures spread throughout the entire country of Italy.
We had to take a motor coach (bus) ride to Pisa as it is roughly ninety minutes from where we docked. It was quite cloudy while we were on the road, but we kept hoping that it would clear up before we got there. No such luck. In addition to that, the bus had to park some distance from the area we were going to visit. As we exited the bus, we were immediately surrounded by vendors trying to get us to purchase souvenirs. They were persistent, but we resisted and proceeded to leave the parking lot and followed our guide. As she walked up the street, she held a sign on a stick high over her head. This was so everybody would be able to find her in a crowd.
We walked about twenty minutes when the first glimpse of the Tower appeared. It was still cloudy when we stopped to get some historic information from our guide. Trying to listen to her was hard because you wanted to start taking pictures and get closer to the attraction. There were a lot of words spoken so we walked a few steps away but kept close enough to stay with our group.
Meanwhile the sun was attempting to assert itself and make it a great day. Guess what? It did! The gray clouds gave way to puffy white ones and a brilliant blue sky. It was magical. The pictures became much more dramatic and beautiful.
Now the real picture taking started. The main reason for this excursion was, of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We took lots of pictures that included the one that everybody takes. You raise your hand and have the camera operator line up the Tower so it looks like you are trying to keep it from falling over. Click, click, click. O.K. Time to see if you got it right. No. Try again. There, that's perfect!
There were other buildings in close proximity, but we did not have much time to explore them. Unfortunately we didn't get all the historical facts as we were concentrating on the Tower. We did take pictures of them though. Then it was off again, down a narrow street to St. Mary's square and more old buildings dating back several hundred years.
After spending some time there, it was time to return to the bus. Another twenty minute walk back, then an attempt to elude the vendors again. We did it. It was easier this time. Now we could sit back and relax as we made the trip back to the ship. We took a peek at some of the pictures we took. WOW!!! The blue sky and white clouds made such a difference in the pictures that they almost looked like postcards you would send back home.
Pisa was such a wonderful sight to see and the excitement of just being there was priceless. It was definitely another check off the old bucket list!
To be continued...
UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAKE CARE! MARC
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