Pisa, Italy

I've decided to start with Pisa as a segue into Tuscany, Italy; My favorite area in the world outside US borders. As the third leg of our spring break trip, we had a little under 24 hours to visit Pisa en route back to Malta. With such a brief time frame, we intended to visit the leaning tower of pisa and very little else. We arrived in the early evening to a warm and bustling Italian airport, with friendly faces and more importantly, a convenient transport system. (Much appreciated, as we were arriving from a stint in Morocco). We spent our one night at the Santa Croce in Fassabonda (http://www.fossabanda.it/home.asp) which was quite more than a hotel! Originally a convent, you can easily imagine young monks and students wandering through the grounds studying their latin. Though lovely architecture is an Italian mainstay, I am always in awe of the graceful beauty carved from simple stone and wood; the character and history embodied in a simple stone arc or stained glass window is both fascinating and breathtaking. We ate dinner at a small restaurant down the street, which I must say had the most amazing canoli's I have ever tasted! Slightly crispy with a light but rich creme filling (and a bit of chocolate) I wondered if it came from heaven, rather than the kitchen. Coupled with the sweetness of the wine and the doting attentions of our Italian waiter, I fell in love with Italy all over again! The following day we took the bus to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) stopping along the way at an outside cafe for coffee and puffy sweet pastries; there is nothing so pleasant as sipping hot coffee and watching the bustle of people and motobikes weaving through the towering feats of architecture and the graceful fountains in the plaza. When we arrived at the site of the tower, we were greeted by expansive green lawns, long lines of vendors, and astounding churches alongside a surprisingly small leaning tower. It was a pleasant sunny day, and we spent the morning wandering around the buildings and tower, taking pictures and looking at the touristy wares for sale. The tower itself is quite beautiful, and at its most alarming angle you marvel at the fact that it is still standing. Apparently as it was being built, the sand beneath it began to shift, and the tower is now 4 or 5 meters off course. It has since been completed (the upper levels quite straight) and reinforced to remove any danger of a final fall. We wandered into the nearby Duomo (Cathedral) and quietly viewed the brilliant frescoes and statues within. The ceilings are often my favorite, they are so elaborate and usually gold. The windows each are a unique pane of stained glass depicting moving scenes from religious literature. Most disconcerting to me (no matter how often I see it!) is the dead bodies and bones on display in some monuments. That creepy curiosity gets to me every time! This particular cathedral had lovely marble floors as well. We ate lunch at a small outside cafe, listening to the music of street performers and contentedly people watching. After doing a bit of souvenir shopping, we took "hey mom!" pictures holding the tower up. Unfortunately we didn't have the time to go up into the tower, as they only allow about 30 people at a time, and we had our baggage. I imagine the view from the top is quite impressive though! There is far more to see in Pisa, including a piazza dedicated to Dante. It is a wonderful place to leisurely enjoy a few days, soaking up an atmosphere only Italy could produce.