Well, here I am sitting on the lawn in the shade of The Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Haha.
Bit surreal.

And, looking up at it...
That's WAY up at it.
Seriously considering my sanity.
It's fine to sit in the nice, secure Folly and book a climb up The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
It's another thing entirely sitting here looking up at it.
It's long way to the top.
Perhaps I'll stand and have a look.
Nope.
That doesn't help.

It leans, you know.

It's 1.15pm.
Just over an hour til I climb.

I'll let you know how I go.

Just been to the toilet.
( Bit nervous.)
Hey, there are 14 million and 37 people at The Leaning Tower today, and no queue at the toilets.
How does that work?
I thought of just hiding in there until the time slot for my ticket had passed.
No.
Seriously.
I did.

But, I'm back here.
( Wish it was tomorrow! I could be in bed in Florence.)
Well, I might be!

It's a very long way up there.
I can see.
I'm looking a it.

And it leans.

A lot!

4.5 metres.

Galileo was here, you know.
Throwing things over the edge.
That's not good, is it?

Doesn't pay to arrive 4 hours before your climb.
That's ALOT of thinking time.

I got lost getting here.
Yep.
Bought a map.
Turned left.
And got lost.

Had a lovely chat with a family in a Park....
Way off where I should have been...
They turned me round and pointed me right.
( See what I did there?)
(I talk a lot when I'm nervous.)

And then I noticed 2 young men ...
The one in front had the IPhone.
The one following was asking ...
'So, do we just go straight then?'
The one in front steadfastly refused to answer.
Just kept walking.
The one behind followed.
They looked like brothers.
It made me smile.
I have seen that look.
Reminded me of when Emily has had enough with the non tech savvy Mum.
This lad had obviously reached that point.
His brother followed.
I followed him.
Couldn't go wrong.


25 minutes to go.

You are not allowed to carry bags up there so we have to sign our handbags in at a storage place.
20 mins before so here I am waiting to do that.

In the 4 hours, I wandered round, looking.
Found the dress shop that I desperately bought a dress in on the Trafalgar Tour.
It was awful.
Threw it away in the end.
It's funny ... this time I am prepared.
I am wearing leggings and a cool shirt.
I didn't think about the shirt at all until I was in the Cathedral.
The shirt is sleeveless and I didn't give it a thought until I saw 3 teenage girls wearing blue, plastic type garbage bags.
I thought, "What on earth are they doing?"
Initiation popped into my head.
Then I realised they had been given these to 'cover up.'
Bet they loved that.

The Cathedral was magnificent.
Both inside and out.
And it is huge.
Beautiful paintings.
Stonework.
Just amazing.

Just wandering around the square is breathtaking.
These buildings were constructed in the 1100's!
And they are spectacular!

Even the one that leans!
Especially the one that leans.
Aside from the fact it leans, it is a beautiful building.
Wandered all round the square, looking at everything from every possible angle.
Just takes your breath away.

Ok... Handed my bag in now.

Got a locker ticket.
Nothing for it now.
I'm up.