spotting the fakes
Florence was a great spot to set up base for a few day to explore the surrounding areas. From Florence, we ventured to Pisa and Siena as day trips. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is in walking distance from the train station. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. We met a couple on the way to Pisa who were bitterly disappointed that there was a bus strike in Pisa and that they would have to walk to see it. Because god-forbid anyone should ever have to use their legs for 10 minutes at a time!
Being in Pisa was surreal, to stand on flat ground and look at this building that looks to be toppling over. There were many brave tourists venturing in to tour the tower. No thanks, we are pretty comfortable staying on a flat and stable surface!
Around Italy, there are vendors selling fake everything. Any item from any designer brand that you can imagine, there is a fake being sold somewhere on the street: sunglasses, perfumes, handbags. One day in Florence, while we were enjoying a stroll through the streets, a piracy ring bust unravelled in front of our eyes (only metres away). First, we heard a “command” hollered from one of the vendors and within 10 seconds, all their temporary shop fronts were literally folded up. There were easily about 10 men carrying their makeshift stores and racing through the alleyways of Florence with undercover police in tow. Only remnants remained that there had been an illegal store nearby: nothing more that a few stray sunglasses lying on the footpath. One detective wearing a cream suit came racing around the corner and was visibly annoyed that the vendors had alluded him. He swore loudly and animatedly kicked and stomped on the scattered sunglasses. We stood in awe and for a split second, considered that this might have been a crime chase being shot in a movie and we would be in the midst of it!
Italy was certainly having its share of excitement for us – what would be next? After spending a week in Florence and eating the BIGGEST gelato known to mankind we are here in Rome.
wise monkeys abroad 
August 23, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Like this post on Pisa – you’re right, got forbid people have to walk to 20 or so minutes to the tower. What annoyed me most though are all those tourists taking those photos where they pretend they’re holding up the tower.
Anyway, thanks for following us on twitter!
Frank (bbqboy)
https://www.facebook.com/bbqboynet
August 23, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Hi Frank. Thanks for stopping by our blog. You had us laughing very hard with your comment about people holding up the tower! We thought it was so daft too (& so unoriginal) so to defy those trying to straighten up, we took photos of us kicking it down 😉 Thanks for following us on twitter & we are not on FB so cannot ‘like’ you on there. But promise that when we are, you will be one of the first!