Friday 6 December 2013

Up the Tower!

So did you guess where I was?


Yes! That's me hanging on up the Leaning Tower of Pisa!!

The magnificent bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa....


This trip away was inspired by a postcard that I received from my dear Dad when I was just a little girl.

Here is the postcard...it's very treasured......I've kept it all these years......44 years in fact......


I can still remember receiving it and being so excited at the thought of climbing the steps to the top of this tower.....a tower that could possibly topple over at any minute!



Here's the reverse of the postcard and a few photos of me as a child that I dug out for my 50th last month. I think I'm about 6 in the bottom right pic...the same age as when I received the card....


The post mark has a little Tower mark and the date is 1969.

My Dad talks about all the steps...oh my goodness......296.....I climbed the spiral staircase within the walls....and made it to the top.....with lots of encouragement from Chris...

I then saw the lovely view of the mountains.......... that my Dad had mentioned.....



....stunning views of the Baptistry and Cathedral....


......and the seven bells my Dad had talked about.....


.......they were so beautiful......


.......it was wonderful to see them up so close at last.....


 They've been there for so many years.....up so high.....


.....and visited by so many people from all over the world....


 ....the experience was slightly surreal and a little bit overwhelming.....


I find it rather incredible that the Leaning Tower was built so long ago....around 1172 to 1370.


We really enjoyed our few days in Pisa. It's a wonderful place to visit.

I hope you've enjoyed this post and thank you for popping by,

Maggie xx

8 comments:

  1. Looks stunning. There are so many places in the world I'd love to visit. Thats one of them Maggie.

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  2. What a special trip. Such a touching post, thinking of your father having been there and writing to you. Just lovely, Maggie. So glad you were able to go.

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  3. How wonderful that you were able to fulfill your childhood dream! I'm so happy for you and your post was beautiful...the pictures, the back story, the postcard.....what a lovely conclusion to a lifelong ambition. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  4. Oh Wow! I would love to climb the Tower of Pisa.
    Lovely post and great photos! Looks like you had a wonderful time with grand views, history, and such a sweet trip down memory lane with your Dad.

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  5. Such a lovely post Maggie inspired by your dear dad all those years ago...my goodness it does lean though doesn't it? :-) But it must have been amazing to be up there! Lovely pics..
    Hope your enjoying all your festive preparations,
    Happy Thursday!
    Susan x

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  6. A fun post and as to the first picture, lol! :)

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  7. What a wonderful inspired trip Maggie! I've never been. Nice to follow in his footsteps, Heather X

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  8. What fun! My husband has been there but at the time, the tower was closed to visitors. So glad you could experience the same thing your father did years ago!

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