Leaning towards Pisa

After roughing it out at anchor in Elba and Corsica, we thought we'd turn ourselves to culture and comfort, so we headed to a marina right on the mouth of the Arno river. After checking into Porto di Pisa, we were only a short bus trip from the wonderful town of Pisa, so we headed straight in.

Fishing nets on the mouth of the Arno river

The Arno river flowing through Pisa

Picturesque town on the stately river

Central piazza of Pisa

Lovely pedestrian only streets

Pisa was a surprise. It broke through our jadedness and charmed us with shady streets, interesting and not too touristy shops, and a lack of that 'frantic feeling' that cities with many tourists, like Florence, develop. There were crowds of tourists around the leaning tower, but surprisingly few in the town itself.

The ever present Garibaldi

Another church

Great street sculpture all throughout the town

Elegant stone balconies

Italiante flourishes everywhere

The tower did not disappoint, and it was amusing to watch all the tourists do the 'Push up the tower' photo. We had our own crack at it, of course.

Cathedral at Pisa

Really needs no title

But it is a very beautiful tower in its white Carerra marble

Taking 'The Photo'

Our version ... that's the Hand of God by the way!

We spent some time in the Cathedral, but refused to pay a ridiculous 18E to climb the tower.

Another of the church complex buildings

Inside the cathedral

Medieval artwork

Wonderful use of stone

The altar

So, we were enchanted. Its been quite a stressful time, with putting Pavlov on the market and trying to figure out the logistics of projecting ourselves and all our belonging half-way across the globe to an unknown destination. We really appreciated how the beauty of Pisa completely took our minds off such mundane matters.

Megan, redefining the notion of Italiante!

So, arrivederci. We're off to La Spezia next, and then to the towns of the Cinque Terra.