Steve Fountain aged 58. Took semi retirement when made redundant at 51. Back from THASSOS loved it....
Steve Fountain aged 58. Took semi retirement when made redundant at 51. Back from THASSOS loved it. Back to whistling at Trains.
Member since:15.07.2007
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We were having a lovely few days in Pisa, the tilting to the Leaning Tower had been arrested, it is even said it is now being reversed, but for obvious tourist reasons I do not envisage that it will be bought back to a level state.
History says it was begun in 1173 and that it has always tilted, subsidence disrupted the foundations so that when they had only errected 3 of the 8 storeys they knew they had a problem, so for the next 180 years a succession of Architects were employed to try and correct the fault. By 1350 it was accepted that the angle would be accepted and the tower was completed, I imagine some far sighted business man had clocked onto its potential. The tower was eventually closed to the Public in the 1990's with an overhang of 5 meters off the true. Much work has been done in reversing the lean and it is open again to the public.
This is where I come in, a VERTIGO sufferer.
Perhaps I had been lulled into false security after appearing on the top of St Peters in Rome, Sacre Ceau the Arc de Triomphe ETC ETC, what I had not appriciated was that all these have walls that avoid you dropping off the tops.
So with a sure feeling I would not have a problem I stood in the queue with Ros my Sister in Law and Anne a family friend to get our tickets.
Only small groups are allowed up at a time and there is a minimum height limit, this should have warned me of the terror ahead.
We started the assent on the Internal staircase. so no fear here just a very strange feeling as you climb the staircase of being thrown against the wall as you go around the walls moving from one side of the obvious lean to the other.
Now the real shock, when you emerge on the top there is no wall no rail just an edge, as you can imagine your Vertigo sufferer faced with this does the only sensible thing , I sat down and clung to the inside wall, even tempted to climb onto one of the great Bells.
Meanwhile Ros and Anne were walking around enjoying the impressive views with crys of Steve look at that, not very easy through closed eyes clinging to the wall.
After what seemed an eternity they managed to prise my fingers from the wall, slid me back onto the staircase where I regained my composure and decended.
How was it asked the wife on my return to level ground, it was OK but I dont think I will do it again.
So my advice is YES go up if you do not have any Vertigo in your brain, after all there is not a deal more to do in Pisa, but if like me stick to the heights that have restraing devices Walls, Fences,Glass Windows. So with that thought I climbed to the top of the close by Baptistery from where you get the same views and can even see the people on the Tower.
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Advantages: Visit to the one of the World Wonder Disadvantages: Careful with local thieves.
seriousstuff 01.05.2006 (01.05.2006)
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