2015 - October: Miscellaneous Day Trips - Pisa

Joyce & I visited Pisa in 2009, but we didn't have enough time to climb the Leaning Tower (la torre pendente di Pisa) as we needed to get on to Rome. This time, I was able to make the climb and walk where Galileo walked! 

From Wikipedia: Galileo Galilei is said to have dropped two cannonballs of different masses from the tower to demonstrate that their speed of descent was independent of their mass. However, this is considered an apocryphal tale, its only source being Galileo's secretary. (Sorry, but I'm a believer!)

The River Arno also flows through Pisa. This is looking west as I walk north from the train station.

The Baptistery, Cathedral and the Bell Tower.

This view shows the extent of the leaning. You can see how the builders tried to compensate for the lean at the upper levels. Today, after restoration, I believe the leaning is still about 12 feet off center!

There is fascinating reading about The Leaning Tower in Wikipedia. Here's the link: Wiki_Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa

Once inside, you can see that it's basically a cylinder.

The floor was like that of a 'fun house' as you partially lose your balance when you first step inside. They only allowed about 30 at a time to climb (all 296 steps) to the top. 

Speaking of steps; notice how worn they are, probably because the tower has been around since the 11th century! 

Interestingly, the steps on the 'outside' of the lean were worn as shown here. The steps on the 'inside' were worn towards the center of the tower. It was a challenge to get to the top!

296 step later...

... you reach the bells. There are 7 altogether, tuned to the musical scale.

From here, the views are amazing!

Me and my shadow!

Returning to terra firma...

Almost as bad as the selfie! This lady didn't know it but she was pushing the wrong way! 

Here's how one hotel moves their guests around.

Maybe Larry can help with the translation...

2015 - October: Eurocentres Italian Language School in Florence

Eurocentres Firenze offers two course schedules; either 20 or 25 lessons per week. I did the 'intensive' 25-lesson schedule last year (whew) and scaled back to the 'basic' 20-lesson schedule for 4 weeks in 2015. This gave me more free time in the afternoon to study or be a tourist. 

More information about the school is available here: Eurocentres Firenze

Putting things on the map, the school is located to the south of the historic city center, below the Arno River. This area is mostly residential, with fewer tourists.

Closer up, this shows where I have been staying, relative to the school. It's only a 10-minute walk in the morning.

This was my class for the first few weeks. From the left we are Berit, me, Carol from Canada, Göran (from Sweden and hubby of Berit), and Vanessa from England. We connected well and enjoyed our time in class together.

Berit and Göran have since gone home and this picture includes our instructors Sara and Rossella. Sara is teaching 'conversation' and Rossella is helping us untangle Italian verb usage. Good luck with that!! Not a bad deal, being surrounded by these ladies!

Carol has since gone home to Montreal and we now have Stephan (from Switzerland) in our class. Sorry, no picture yet. For now, the boys outnumber the girls!

With only a few days left, I'm feeling anxious to get home but also a bit sad to leave Florence and the friends I've gotten to know. Oh well, maybe next year!?!

2015 - Oct. 2-4: Our Final Destination - Florence

Our vacation adventure in Italy is coming to an end! Soon, David and Joyce will head home and I will start school. Our final weekend together is in Florence. 

Thanks to cousin Marilyn, we are staying at the Casa Santo Nome di Gesu convent, which is within a 15th century palace! It has a beautiful garden and is located in the most authentic quarter of Florence’s historical city center.

More pictures and lots of information available here: Casa Santo Nome

We've unpacked and we're off to see the city. Our first stop is the Piazza della Signoria, where the statue of David is kept. 

The one outside is a replica...

Everyone comes here to...

... take that ever-important "selfie".

A few blocks north is the Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

A couple of seasoned travelers!

Next, we are off to the Basilica of Santa Croce.

A view of the alter area.

A closer view of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce). This is actually a replica as the original was damaged in a flood.

The original is currently hanging in a room dedicated to preserving it.

In 1966, the Arno River flooded much of Florence, including Santa Croce. The water entered the church bringing mud, pollution and heating oil. The damage to buildings and art treasures was severe, taking several decades to repair.

Do you see the three white rectangles to the upper-left of Joyce? They indicate the water levels from previous floods. The top one indicates the water level of the February 1966 flood!

Lastly, we visit the Galileo Museum. Incedible!! I thought David and Joyce might spend the night in the museum!

After this, the hard part starts; four weeks at the Eurocentres Italian Language School. Dictionaries are ready!!

2015 - Oct. 1: We are heading north. First stop is Assisi.

After 5 days in Rome, we started our journey north. Rather than just going to our ultimate destination of Florence, we decided to spend one day in Assisi.

As we arrived at the station, we were greeted with rain! In spite of that, we walked (under our umbrellas) to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. 

Inside the Basilica is the Porziuncola. The chiesetta (little church) of Porziuncola (Italian for "little portion") is the most sacred place for Franciscans. Francis was given this little church, dating from the 9th century, by the Benedictine monks. (borrowed from Wikipedia). A later Pope felt compelled to build the Basilica here and enclose the Porziuncolo within it!

After a bit of lunch, we head up from the valley to our B&B in the city. The front door of our B&B is in front of the car on the left.

This is the breakfast room.

Our view of the village and the valley below, from our bedroom window.

We don't have a lot of time, but we must see the Basilica of Saint Francis. Like most churches, photos taken in the inside are forbidden.

This is the lawn to the east of the Basilica.

Like most walkways and streets in Assisi, the only direction to go is UP!!

2015 - Sept. 30: Papal Audience

Pope Francis returned from the USA just in time for us to attend his General Audience on this day. (We initially thought it was ironic that he was in the US while we were in Italy...) We joined him with several THOUSAND of our best friends.

Unlike previous Popes, Francesco cruises through the crowd before the General Audience begins.

People were creative in their efforts to see him and get a photo. (I stood on a chair, like a civilized person!)

Of course, there was the ever-important selfie to be taken!

Even though we were far away, we were able to hear Papa Francesco's message. A copy is available here: Papal Message 9-30-2015