One Leaning Tower and Two That Fall – Italy

One Leaning Tower and Two That Fall
Italy

September 5
I slept in to today and then went to Milan. It was tough to get a place to stay because there are a lot of trade fairs and fashion shows now. There are not a lot of historical buildings here but one is the fortress, Castello Sforzesco, and another good building is the Duomo. There are a lot of motor scooters and fashion stores here, however. I was really struck how well everyone was dressed.

The cheesy tourist picture in Pisa includes holding your hands out as if to hold up the Leaning Tower

I am trying to get more information on a train to Slovenia. I had one person at tourist information who has helping. He started speaking English but eventually forgot how to. I told him to find someone who would speak English. Three people later, someone had enough pride in their job to help me.

September 6
An early start today, staring at The Last Supper. The painting is inside the cathedral in a dark, climate-controlled area. There are two paintings that each take up a side of the wall. I was actually more impressed with the other one that showed Christ’s death as it was in better shape.

Then I got on the next train to Venice. I paid for tonight and the 8^th. This turned into a heated argument, which is common in Italy. I paid for the first night but I didn’t want to pay the second night unless she could assure me that I could get in as reception closes at 11 p.m. and that’s when my train back was to arrive. She kept calling me crazy in between yelling at me but I think we have it worked out.

Venice is fantastic with all the bridges, canals and gondolas. These gondolas have to struggle against motorized boats at times too. Most of the time the gondola drivers are busy hissing at women though.

I went to San Marcos Square. I can’t believe all the pigeons in the square there has to be more birds than people. The cathedral is very attractive to look at; I remembered my pants in my small backpack which I needed to get into the church.

Walking through the back streets can be very confusing. I had to walk from San Marcos to the train station and I got lost a couple of times. They have arrows near the major squares but it is difficult at times.

September 7
I have heard good things about Ljubljana, Slovenia so I’m looking forward to this trip. The castle and museum are located on top of a major hill. I got a good look at the Bavarian Alps from here.

I met another tourist, Karl, on the train and we walked down to the center and had some food. I had my best meal so far which was deer medallions and garlic soup. After that we walked around the center square and stumbled on a back street that had a few indoor/outdoor bars. Most bars close at 2 a.m. but most clubs stay open all night and you can walk around the streets with beer in your hand.

September 8
In Ljubljana, the triple bridge is one new thing I saw. Also the open-air market with flowers, souvenirs and food. The city is big enough to see a few different things but small enough that it is friendly. I actually ran into a couple of locals from the bars last night and we talked for awhile.

Ponte Vecchio was the only main bridge in Italy that wasn’t bombed in World War II and includes several shops that are built right on the bridge

I would have stayed for another day but I need to get back to Venice. After the battle I had with reception I want to make it back. Hopefully she’s up at 11 tonight otherwise I’ll be sleeping at the train station.

September 9
I made it to Venice last night. I ran to my hotel when the train, which like most Italian trains was delayed, arrived and the reception lady was still waiting. This morning I went to Florence, which is dominated by the brown dome of the Duomo. There are many attractions in this area. I walked up the very tall bell tower and looked at the Tuscany countryside. I thought the Baptistery was the most interesting as I looked up and saw all the paintings on the inside of the dome. The bronze doors leading into the Baptistery are famous including the one on the side facing the Duomo which is called Gates of Paradise.

There are a lot of different things to see besides the church area. I went up to the museum that houses Michelangelo’s David. There were several sculptures to see but this is the top of the list. Then I doubled back to the central area and visited the Uffizi Gallery, which is an art museum. I crossed the river to see the Pitti Palace which is just huge.

The bridge I crossed the river on had an interesting story as well. It is called the Ponte Vecchio. It was the only main bridge in Italy that wasn’t bombed in World War II. There are several shops that are built right on the bridge and there is a good business on the bridge. It makes for a very odd-shaped bridge.

September 10
On to Pisa to see the leaning tower there. I couldn’t get up in the tower because they are still doing work on it. There is the Pisa Square with a series of squares including the Baptistery and the old Roman wall to walk around.

I’ve taken the cheesy tourist picture. People stand a few feet in front of the tower and position their hands so it looks like they are holding up the tower. I saw a lot of people standing up and sticking their hands out and I didn’t quite catch it at first. But then I caught on.

There are a few other things to see, including The Knight’s Square and the fortress. Many people miss this because it’s just a quick day trip to Pisa for a lot of people. But I enjoyed hanging out in the city. I did have to get back to Florence to get my overnight to Sicily.

September 11

Popular among couples is a gondola trip in Venice

The overnight train went well. I was in with a family of five and they were nice. They actually load the trains into the boats and take the boat to Sicily before the train gets back on the track and onto Catania. Catania is a bit dodgy. There is a very smelly fish market I passed and I went to the post office, which took about an hour and a half to get all the paperwork and the correct change. I also got my trip to Mt. Etna lined up.

I returned home to the hostel and saw everyone looking at the television. Even the potheads at the hostel stopped smoking marijuana and watched the television. I knew that wasn’t good and when I saw the terrorist attacks in the US, I was right. I was the only American there so there was a lot of questions directed at me and in general. There seemed to be a lot of confusion about what happened and what would happen. I e-mailed home and said I was OK and that I would be moving on to Mt. Etna tomorrow.