Gemma

Well 3 stories:

The first time I went to Pisa I climbed the tower. It was very scary. I’m not scared of heights, but at each level you walk around the perimeter. It was about 17 years ago and there were no safety rope and you could just have stepped off the edge. It was very busy and people were jostling past each other – I’m amazed there were no terrible accidents every day!

The next time I went to Pisa, I was working in Italy selling business cards to shop keepers. It was the worst job I ever had and it was basically a scam. I was 22 and hating lying to all the lovely friendly people – so when I was fired from the job for not selling anything I actually owed the company money for my board and lodgings!

The last time I went to Pisa, it was during the World Cup 1998. I had the best time in this city as I was staying with people who lived there and were part of the italian community. We spent evenings in courtyards with pizza ovens and lanterns and people playing guitars and singing. Fantastic.

I really enjoyed staying in this part of the US … it was only a 5 day trip, but the highlight for me was visiting the Everglades and seeing the aligators and manatees from one of those giant hairdryer boats (like they used to have in gentle ben!!).

I say worth visiting – but I did not have a good trip here. I’m sure there are some amazing things to see here … but I ended up in hospital and on a drip with Amoebic Dysentry.

Maybe oneday I’ll go back – but there are many other places I would like to go first.

It is shut on Mondays.

But definitely worth visiting. Amazing building.

I certainly didn’t mean to put this as somewhere I wanted to visit!

I mean this isn’t a bad place (and it’s where I spent the first 3 years of my life) – but not somewhere I’d suggest people visit.

Great place … friendly, fun and beautiful.

A place of happy memories.

Go up the round tower and sit and ponder the world. This is one of my favourite places to sit and think. On a sunny clear day you can see out across the solent, the island is clear and the sea sparkles. When it’s grey and rainy it’s just the best place to ponder and be a bit moody. The sea turns from grey to green and back again.

But the best time is at night. If you can brave the dark passage way (hold your breath as it smells) then go up the round tower at night and sit and watch all the lights, on the island, on the boats, on the forts and wave at the people on the late night ferries.

But don’t tell everyone … I’m used to having it to myself :-)

I spent time here in 1985 and 1987 staying with a family who lived in the city and who had a daughter that I was penfriends with. Each year for 3 years she also came to stay with me and went to school with me etc. It was a big adventure for me as I’d never been away from home before. It was a wonderful city and I’d love to go back and see it 20 years on (ohmigod – is it really that long!!)

I never tire of this view – it looked stunning this evening.

top place for skiing