Pisa pics

I am safely returned home to London. It has been an amazing trip and I am sorry I was not able to write about it as I went. But, I kept a journal... and had my camera. First slice of Italian life; Pisa.

Pisa was quite pretty, and very relaxed. The town's two main industries are a university and an architectural error. So, it is a small town really, and the main focal point in the area (at least for locals) is the promenades and piazzas alongside the Arno River. It is quite a pleasant spot:


Just north of the river is where we had our first shopping experience at a very earnest organic market. This is the doorstop Lucy bought:


Somewhat fortified by at least a kilo of cheese, she and I wandered through cute streets to the Campo dei Miracoli ('Field of Miracles') to gawk at the Tower. My photo makes the Field look quite small, but it is actually a rather large few acres with lush lawns and these enormous marble buildings:


Mind you, the Leaning Tower is much smaller than I thought it would be - only eight or so storeys high.

After a wee while being a tourist, and dodging the very persistent handbag sellers, we decided we liked it better on the south side of the river. So, we wandered back along different streets, and I took this shot in an alley behind the main artists' village:


I thought it captured nicely the quaintness of Pisa (all the university students ride bicycles. so they are parked everywhere) with the modern plague of graffiti that was affecting everywhere (even gorgeous old statues raised in honour of city fathers are covered).

Overall, Pisa was a good first stop in a new country. I got a gentle introduction to speaking Italian, and there were enough English-speakers around to help when needed. Also, the tiny, ancient streets made me feel very cosy and welcome.

From a very pleasant Pisa we 'went country' - deep into Tuscany...