Pisa II

We didn't have much time to spend in Pisa.  So we just did a quick walk around the Piazza del Duomo ("Cathedral Square" - also known as Piazza di Miracoli "Square of Miracles") before we had to head back to the B&B to collect our luggage and move on. 

The funny thing was my girls weren't the only children who seemed to find swinging on the chains the most fun part of the Pisa experience.  When I took this photo I had to wait while several other children
wandered in and out of the frame. 

Ok, a few more of these.  We had to do it.  Can you imagine coming to Pisa and not taking a photo of yourself doing this?  Wasted trip, right? 

S hates having her photo taken.  With a passion.  But, after watching us all assume this pose, she decided she'd get in on the action. 

I guess she's holding up the sky here. 

Oh, and now the tower. 

E is sitting on one of many rock posts lining the lawn.  At any given time, all along this row, you can see people balancing on a post and pretending to hold up the tower.  As we took this photo, a teenage boy had just run along the row of posts surprise high-five-ing everyone who had their hand up to pose for a photo.
It was pretty funny! 

Ahhh... finally.  The vendors.  THIS was what E had waited for.  When we travel, in each city we visit we give the girls a little bit of pocket money.  They are allowed to spend that money any way they want.  This helps cut down on the begging because, believe me, a street vendor situation like this can promote a whole-lotta begging.  After much deliberation E bought herself a key chain and S bought herself a Pinocchio doll. 

On the walk back to our hotel we snuck into a few courtyards etc. to explore a little 

This just felt so... so... Italy after we've been used to the clean lines and orderliness of Sweden. 

Lunch in a street cafe.  E playing with her newly bought key chain. 

And S loving her newly bought Pinocchio

After our quick tour of Pisa we hopped on a train and headed to Florence. 

This little one quickly got tired - the twirling of the hair is a tell-tale sign - and she settled in for a nap. 

Pisa I

W found us an amazing little B&B in the center of Pisa.  It was so perfect for us I'd have been content staying there for a while longer.  But we had only one day in Pisa.  This was my first time visiting the city and I wasn't expecting much.  In fact, I was pleasantly surprised.  The area around the leaning tower is beautiful.  It seems that the only photos that make it out of Pisa are of the tower, but the buildings surrounding it are spectacular!!  

E loves to work the map when we are traveling.  Here we gave her the map, 

showed her where we were headed and then let her figure out how to get there. 

Sweet girl. 

Meanwhile, S hung with me. Our flight the night before had gotten in late 

so she was a sleepy bug this morning. 

We knew we were getting close to the tower because the number of street vendors suddenly increased. 

My photos just can't do it justice, but what struck me is how elegant the tower is.  The stone is a beautiful mix of colors.  And, if you've been reading this blog at all, you know I'm sucker for architectural details. 

This is one of the doors on the cathedral, which stands right next to the tower. 

There it is. 

You know we had to do these... 

*sigh* Just look at that!  

Across the lawn from the tower it was street vendor heaven. You want a chotchke with the image of the tower on it?  They have it. Somehow I managed to restrain myself from buying a backpack with a glittering Smurfette holding up the tower.  But if you want one, I know where you can get it. 

See!  There are other buildings around the tower. 

These poor police officers had a never-ending task.  All around the perimeter of this lawn are signs asking people not to walk on the grass.  But there's always a rebel in the crowd.  Eventually one person steps on the grass, then another, then another.  They ALL go out onto the grass and assume the exact same pose (holding up the tower pose, seen that one before?)  And then these poor officers have to blow their whistles and chase the tourists off the grass.  Five minutes later the scenario starts over again. 

Ahem, little one?  There's a beautiful building behind you.  

S didn't care.  She was playing some pretend game that didn't involve history or Italian culture 

or anything related to where we were. 

See this stunning cathedral? 

Now see how our children found the MOST fun thing in Pisa was swinging on these chains? 

This is why I take photos.  Some day they'll say "Remember that city where we got to swing on those fun chains?" And I'll be able to click into this blog and say "Yes, and remember there were some amazing buildings and a leaning tower there too!??!" 

The chains were fun, yes.  But once E realized she could buy herself a souvenir 

she was all about getting over to the vendors. 

I just love this. 

From Lund to Italy

In late March we headed out on another adventure.  First stop:  Italy.  

Here we are still in Sweden, just beginning our journey. 

S waited patiently on the kitchen floor while we packed and made snacks for the trip. 

... and she helped W with the luggage.  (So helpful!) 

Riding the bus to the airport. 

The first of *many* snack breaks. 

  

Enjoying Malmö airport:  We arrived so early the check-in desk wasn't open.  The girls found a bank of rental strollers and proceeded to push their imaginary friends around in the strollers.  They're experts at at making fun out of nothing ... when they want to be.

Malmö's airport is very small.  Small airports are fun - you can get up close to the planes.