IT'S STILL A LEANER

We went to Pisa this Summer. Along with lots of other places in Italy: Rome, where we went on a death march for 40 minutes in the city in 103 degrees plus humidity; to Florence where we got an in-depth lecture about Michelangelo's David; to Sorrento where we had an 8-course meal then dessert at the owner of the restaurant's sister's house; to Capri, one of my favorite places in the whole world; to Venice, another place I really like (they have a lot of pride, refusing to be called Italians, the citizens will remind you that they are Venetians); to Portofino with great views and great heat/humidity; and a few other places whose names escape me right now.

But Pisa. I'd heard much about the Leaning Tower. I'd heard it was not very tall at all. It is. I had also pictured it as being alone. It isn't. Which I think helps to get the prospective of how much it leans. At least the bottom 3-5 stories. Then it straightens out. I also thought we would climb it or at least go part way up. We couldn't. They only allow 15 people per climb, and since we were there on a Saturday, we had no chance. But I thought we might go up a few flights. No.

They could straighten it, but why? They'd lose almost 1 million visitors per year, because who would want to see the Straight Tower Which Once Leaned of Pisa?

It looks no different today than from the 1924 photo, but then why should it? It stands there by the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Cemetery. Leaning.

I tried to stand at an angle to catch me trying to prop it up. I haven't had a chance to see the picture yet, but I'm sure if it turns out, it won't be a collectors' item. I k now my idea was not an original, though Pisa is.