{"id":6841,"date":"2012-07-25T16:53:44","date_gmt":"2012-07-25T20:53:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=6841"},"modified":"2015-07-02T15:15:43","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T19:15:43","slug":"day-59-tuesday-july-24-florence-to-pisa-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=6841","title":{"rendered":"Day 59, Tuesday, July 24 – Florence to Pisa, Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten degrees warmer this morning and the sun had pushed most of the clouds away.\"\"<\/a> Fortunately, the wind we had battled coming into the city was still blowing, so we had a fabulous push as we headed back towards the coast. With a different road back, we were able to keep the mountains at a distance.\"\"<\/a>We still had hills, just not miles worth.\"\"<\/a>One would think that as many weeks as we’ve been climbing hills, \"\"<\/a>we’d fly up; but we fill the burn with every incline,\"\"<\/a>large or small. \u00a0 We breezed through small villages\"\"<\/a>country roads\"\"<\/a>and along a beautiful river;\"\"<\/a> conjuring memories of last year’s trip\"\"<\/a>complete with a castle on a hilltop.\"\"<\/a>With the wind as strong as it is, the smell of breakfast (butter, sugar, chocolate) from the bakeries lingered for miles as we rode through towns\"\"<\/a> and then changed to grilled meats and garlic in the afternoon. \u00a0Needless to say, it was a beautiful\"\"<\/a> and delightful ride.\"\"<\/a>Our first decorated round-about in Italy.\"\"<\/a>Once again, we had a wonderful river entrance to our destination city, Pisa.\"\"<\/a>Anxious to see the tower, we walked into town and through the gates \"\"<\/a>of the wall that surrounds the old city of Pisa. \u00a0And then we saw “it”,\"\"<\/a>The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an incredible structure to see in person;\"\"<\/a>mind-boggling that is has not fallen,\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

maybe it just needs a push (it’s the “Pisa Pose”).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

History lesson: \u00a0In 1173 the foundation of the Tower was laid. \u00a0The foundation was flawed from beginning and the tower began it’s lean by the time they reached the second floor. Construction was halted for a war here and there, but finally completed a century later. \u00a0What is missed in all the pictures of Pisa is the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

or the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Also missed is the Piazza dei Cavalieri\"\"<\/a>and pretty city streets.\"\"<\/a>Found a restaurant (Bar & Food 62) among the hundreds lining the road and enjoyed the <\/em><\/strong>most incredible Calzone,\"\"<\/a> and yes, their dough was better than Regino’s. \u00a0There was much more to see of the city, but below is all we can offer.\n\t\t