Day 6, Leaning Tower of Pisa

Day 6, Pisa, and Lake Maggiore.  Our itinerary for the day says  stop at Pisa for the Leaning Tower from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity.  See the splendid cathedral and baptistery decorated with mosaics.  Journey past the marble quarries T Carrara, used since the time of Ancient Rome.  Travel through the Apennine Mountains to the fertile valley of the River Po. and continue to your lakeside resort on beautiful Lake Maggiore.

The town of Pisa is one of the areas where tour coaches aren't permitted.  We toured several areas where the coaches have to park some place outside the city, and tourist need to walk in, or find other transportation.  From memory, believe this was the 2nd time the coach had to leave us outside city limits.  Partially due to the distance, and perhaps because of our lady in the wheel chair, Vivian; arrangements were made to ride these little trains into the area where The Leaning Tower of Pisa,  and Cathedral were.  We weren't the only tour group here that morning, so the trains must be common place.

And even after you leave the train outside the walled area, you still must walk to your actual destination.  ERnie in right foreground.

As you approach, you see the Cathedral on your left and The Leaning Tower beyond.  They look connected in this picture, but they aren't.  It's just the distance.  But, comparing it to the building near it, you see better how much it's leaning.

A different view where were almost in front of the Cathedral, gives you a feel for the size.

We considered briefly doing the shot where you find the right spot and look like you're holding it up, but the line of younger folks waiting to do that...we moved on.  The Leaning tower is the bell tower for the Romanesque Marble Cathedral, built in 1372.  Even at the time it was built, it leaned.  Later due to it leaning so much Italians were afraid it would fall over, devices were used to secure it.  Over time it was beginning to straighten the tower......which would ruin the tourist attraction, so alterations had to be made to allow it to continue to lean.

The Cathedral was beautiful even from the outside, and as you can see the line to enter was long, so was the line to buy the ticket to enter.  Knowing our time table here, we elected to walk around the community instead.  I don't believe anyone in our group made it inside the Cathedral.  There was also a long line to use the bathroom, which was one of the many paid public toilets we encountered during our travels. (more on bathrooms in a later post)

One of the side streets with shops and places to eat.  We were there early enough, many weren't yet open for the day.

This was gorgeous.  Look at the wooden wheels!  I couldn't read the sign posted with it, but we assume it's for hire to site see from.

 Some views out the window of the coach.

We're approaching Lake Maggiore.  We did pass the marble areas mentioned in the itinerary for the day.  It was visible from the coach, but not such that a picture was obtained.  A very steep hillside where marble was selected and the difficulty of getting the marble to the artist/builder etc was discussed.  We could see very primitive roads off in the distance.

**Pop back in for Lake Maggiore.

Happy HALLOWEEN

Let's Travel back in time with the help of a time machine..........to a time of black and white, a time of homemade Halloween Costumes.  

Me on the left wearing a very itchy burlap dress my Mom made.  I was an Indian Princess.  My long braids were a black scarf that I used for years as a black scarf.  

In the middle, my younger brother as a bunny.  I don't remember what Mom used to make his costume...fabric wise, but she was quite a seamstress.

On the right is my older brother as a Hobo.  What's nice from memory is none of us wore a mask, so we could easily breath and see where we were going.  We're standing in front of the family TV (yes family tv, there was just one, like in most households).

The location, Marion Ohio...date?  Well, not sure but am guessing somewhere around 1955 ish?

As we travel back in time, I'm reminded how different the holiday was celebrated then.  There were no parades, no parties at school...after all you went to school to learn, not to have parties.  You went door to door in just your neighborhood and parents stayed at home in the house, so they could pass out the candy.  You always were invited into someone's house, cause you knew them and they knew you.  They pretended to guess who you were, why you'd chosen to be.......whomever it was you'd chosen to be...AND, you always said Trick n Treat, and you always said thank you.

In my neighborhood now, parents are always with their kids, kids get driven from neighborhood to another to collect more, most kids are wearing store bought costumes, there is no neighbor to neighbor conversation.  Most kids don't say thank you, and sadly most parents don't make them.  Most schools have parties and parades so the kids typically celebrate either the whole day or multiple days......perhaps overload?  Perhaps too much.  Simpler might be better.


PLEASE leave me a comment when you come visit, so I know you were here. Your visits and comments are very special to me.

Day 5, Florence Birthplace of The Renaissance

 Night 4, Continued.

After our wonderful diner at Dianella Vineyard, we boarded the coach and made our way to our next lodging.  Grand Hotel Tamerici E Principe in Montecatini.

Our room didn't look that nice.  We arrived after dark and had a hard time making our way to our room as the halls weren't lite..not sure what that was about.  But, a bad start.  We've opted for twins so they weren't together as in the hotel's picture.

Day 4, Continued Fattoria Dianella and Montecatini

You saw Ern and I just as we were observing the pretty hillside view of the vineyard in the previous post.  This was our Dine at Home experience.  Which means a local invites you to dine in the home...in this case her Mediciean villa.  Veronica welcomed us and told us a bit about her family, and the vineyard.

We had a tour where a member of her staff explained the process of making wine.

The types of grapes they use: Sangiovese, Colorino, Vermentino, Malvasia, and Sabernet Sauvignon.

Then we settled in to do some wine tasting and have a delicious meal, that seemed like it would never end.  One course after another paired with appropriate wines.  Fantastic meal, and lots of fun.

 Lots of folks having a good time.

In a beautiful setting, with good food and wine.

This group was paying attention!  This was an included item in our tour, not an optional pay extra item.

Can't take credit for this lovely photo, it's from their website.  We walked around outside for a few minutes, while some were in the wine cellar (yippee my hubby Ernie was) buying wine.

Wonderful photo of Veronica and her husband Francesco.  Also from their website.  Please take time and visit their page.  It's a B & B.  You can stay there, you can go taste wine, you take cooking classes there, and you can buy wine!!

This is me...excited as our case of wine from Dianella winery arrived yesterday!  We opened one last night at dinner.  Naturally we were having a pasta dinner!

Day 4, Medieval City Siena, Tuscany

Siena, depending on your route from Rome it's a 2.75 hours to 3.5 hours.  Day 4, our itinerary indicates we'll be traveling north to medieval Siena, and stroll through the winding stone-paved street to the vast Piazza del Camp, where the Palio takes place.

Ok, so far we are indeed winding our way you can see the cobblestone (sure played havoc with Vivien's wheelchair).  Up and down hills, and around and around and through.........be ware of traffic.  As you see it's tight.  Siena was named after Senius, the son of Remus.  You might remember Remus and Romulus are said to be the brothers that founded Rome.  You'll see lots of statues and emblems, a she-wolf who suckled Remus and Romulus.

Day 3 Continued, The Colosseum, Rome

Ernie did a decent selfie!  He walked up to the 2nd level of the Colosseum.  You need special tickets to go beyond that...it's almost a separate tour to go to the top.  It's my understanding you have to reserve well in advance and the tickets are hard to come by.  Our guide, Ziggy told us that. 

Day 3, Rome Continued, The Forum

 WOW!!  This was so much more than I anticipated.  Our "regular" tour day had ended.  But, optional #2 (Guided visit to Colosseum & Roman Forum) was still on for the day.  Cost 54.00 Euros (per person remember things on tours are per person costs).  Well, yeah, we were in Rome naturally we wanted to see The Colosseum and Forum.  We started first thing in the morning remember with walking tour, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Bramante Stairs, Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon....but we signed up for this optional.  

 I would have enjoyed it more had it not all been the same day.  Really...lots of walking (more than I had been able to do since breaking my foot), and it was HOT!  But, we'd travel just under 6,000 miles I think the flight monitor said to get to Rome...........so.  Here were are.

Day 3, Rome Continue, The Pantheon

Still in Rome and still day 3...yes it was a very full and busy day!  This is Ernie either checking his phone to see if he got the picture or getting ready to take a picture as we approach The Pantheon.  This was one of my Rome highlights.  The building is a true marvel.  It's gorgeous, it's massive, it's impressive inside and out.

This close up shows you holes in the cement.  Our guide Ziggy told us those are holes that have been drilled to add steel (in my mind I though rebar when she talked) for strength.

The Pantheon was a Roman Temple and is now a Church, an active church.  The earlier temple was commissioned by Marcaus Agrippa during the rein of Augustus, and completed by Hadrian about 126 A.D.  There are several important burials there: Raphael The Painter, Annibale Carracci also a painter, Arcangelo Caorelli a composer, and Baldassare Peruzzi an architect.  Raphael perhaps the best known is there on the left where you see the statue.

Day 3, Vatican and Rome with Ziggy, Bramante Staircase

This photo is from Wiki, so you can see what the modern  (built in 1932) Bramante Staircase looks like.  It's a double helix design, modeled after the original built in 1505.  It's purpose is to move traffic in two directions without interruption.  

The original was built to accommodate animals and people, and to connect the Belvedere Palace of Pope Innocent VIII to the outside.  Built in a herringbone paving pattern with granite doric columns.

Day 3 Vatican and Rome with Ziggy, Part I

Ziggy was out local guide, lady in the black coat.  She was a hoot.  Great since of humor.  Quite knowledgeable.  She was German, married to an Italian and told us her Mother was French.......so to say she had background would be quite an understatement.  Francis the guy to her right with the notebook was our tour Director.  He is actually Austrian, but has lived in Italy for years and his wife in English.  He speaks several languages as does Ziggy.  Between them English, Italian, German, French, Austrian...and perhaps more; but those are the languages we know about.  We boarded our coach for a quick ride to a meeting place to collect Ziggy where we can began our very LONG day 3, she accompanied us the whole long day.  Many thought she was too knowledgeable and offered to much detail in her commentary.


The description for that day says a local guide will lead you through the priceless art collections of the Vatican Museums, ending in the Sistine Chapel to spend time with Michelangelo's famous ceiling.  A special VIP behind the scenes look at the Bramante Staircase.  Later to St. Peter's Basilica, followed by a walking tour of Trevi Fountain and Pantheon.  Then have time to relax and absorb the atmosphere of Piazza Navona. 

Day 2 Continued, Meeting up with the Tour Group

 Day 2 Continued.......we met up with our tour director Francis Touschek and the other 38 members of our group.  (we had a full coach). We boarded the coach and went for a group dinner at Amedeo where Francis gave us some history, and a few organization items needed for the tour.  Dinner was ok, not as good as what we had the night before; but it was fun getting to know a few people.  Names are hard to remember (I thought that last year in Ireland), so decided this year I would make notes. These are pictures from their website, as we forgot to get a picture while there.

We dinnered with Jeanie and Earl and their friends Sharon and Bill.  Others were at our table but at the other end of the table so hard to chat much.  The 4 of them traveled together.......knew each other from high school days; but no longer live in the same town.  I believe I had eggplant something from memory and red wine.  We board the coach to return to the hotel. 

Half the group returned to hotel, meanwhile the rest of us opted for our first optional experience (add on) for a night tour of Rome.  Yes, my eyes are closed...and I was sleepy...though that's not why my eyes were closed.  I do that often in pictures unknowingly.  Mostly we were on the coach, but for about 10 minutes here for photo's at St. Peter's Basilica at night without the hoards of people.  Tour was about 1.5 hours long and cost 19 Euro's per person.  In retrospect, going back and going to bed might have been a better option.  We really didn't see much at night, and most of what he said then he repeated later on our tour.

So, if you're looking to take Insights Italian Escape Tour, I would not recommend the first optional called Rome by Night.  Two fold, most of the group arrived that day and still hadn't had a decent nights sleep.  While we had arrived the day before, we were still very tired. And secondly, the info he gave us that night was repeated, as I mentioned above.  So, really nothing missed if you opted not to do the first optional.

Day 2 in Rome Italy, before the Tour

 Breakfast was to be included with our hotel but, we were so tired we slept too late to get our breakfast buffet at the hotel.  So, we rested and ventured out on our own with a plan to head to The Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Neighborhood.  It was our understanding those weren't on the list of things we'd see with our tour group.  As we wondered around we came upon what is called The Old Roman Wall (Auirelian Walls).  These walls were built for defenses of the Eternal City way back in the 4th century BC.  The 6th King of Rome Servius Tullius initiated the first defensive walls built from large blocks of volcanic tufa that were about 10 meters high.

There was about 500 years of peace in The Roman Empire, during the Golden Age and little need of defensive walls.  However, later as Rome grew and more lands and peoples were involved that changed.  The Barbaric Hoards were a problem so Aurelian, who was then the Emperor had the walls rebuilt and it included all of the 7 hills of Rome and Trastevere district south of the Tiber River.  It only took 5 years to build these walls that covered 3500 acres, as the Emperor used Rome Citizens, not just the military.  It was completed just after the death of Aurelian.  Later Maxentius doubled the height of the walls to increase protection.  There were 381 square watch towers built at 30 meter intervals with 18 gateways in and out of the city.

These walls, and gateways remained after the fall of The Roman Empire.  After 16 centuries the walls were breached at Porta Pia on Sept 20th 1870, which was the beginning of the unification of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II.  Though Italy is old...very old, it has not been a unified country for very long.  A little confusion on the date, as I also read the date of 1861 as the date The King declared the country unified, so perhaps Porta Pia was a battle after the fact.

These walls are the largest monument in Rome as they extend into everyday life.  You see the walls, you still go through the gateways, some of the walls are included in peoples homes and other buildings throughout the city.

Hubby, as we were walking about.  I needed to prove he was there. LOL- This was a park near the above wall and gate.  

 We made our way to The Spanish Steps, but it was terribly crowded, and quite hot.  So we walked around a bit. 

Us half way on The Spanish Steps with Trinita dei Monti Church behind us.

Lots of shopping around The Spanish Steps

Trying to get a feel for the steepness of the steps down into the square.  The Spanish steps were built to link the Church at the top of Piazza di Spagna to the Spanish square below.  

Another view of the church

Was hot and we needed a break so found a little place for lunch, Trinita Snack Bar.  We shared a sandwich and had our first very cool Italian Gelato after lunch.  Sparkler included!  I did not find a webpage for this little restaurant, but did a favorable review on yelp, and here's the link to their facebook page.

Beautiful statues everywhere, as we continued on walking after lunch.

 Even at Government Buildings, which is where these very steep steps go.  We found shade though!

 Even the streets are pretty, notice the mix of color between the white government buildings.

Statues abound.  At this point, I was done.... (broke my foot in March and not totally healed, as it takes they say a year), so we called Uber and made it back to the hotel to rest a bit, and get showers in order to meet up with a tour guide and group members for a welcome dinner that evening.

A wonderful and full day before our tour.