There is not much to see in Pisa besides the leaning tower, a few museums, and a church. I did Pisa in less than an hour, but the whole thing was definitely an experience. It started at 6am which is way too early for most people, including myself. RJ and I decided that we had to see it because what if it falls down tomorrow and we miss our chance forever? No, but seriously, how could we not go and see the famous tower? It was a very short adventure, let's just say that.
Our train was at 7am from the Santa Maria Novella train station which is about a ten minute walk from our apartment. An hour later we made it to Pisa. There are two train stations there: Pisa Centrale and Pisa San Rossore. The train we took there ended in Pisa Centrale and the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a 25 minute walk from there.
I am usually hungry in the morning and before I got mean and hangry, we stopped at a café for a cappuccino and croissant. I love a good cream croissant, they're my go-to unless I am specifically in the mood for another type like pistachio or jam filled. So we each ordered one at this small café near the train station. The first bite is usually just a filler bite until the yummy center where all the creamy goodness is stored, but not this time. These croissants were FRESH out of the oven and when I say fresh, I mean that the cream filling was melting into the bread because they were hot from coming out of the oven.
We walk the rest of the way to Pisa and are greeted with an empty piazza and a leaning tower. It was so early that the tourist rush didn't start yet. We were able to take the typical tourist photos holding up the tower and I like to think I invented this next one: kicking the tower down (pictured below for reference if you want to recreate). It was fun to do the poses but it was not as easy as it looks.
Seeing the tower in real life didn't feel real, it was a pinch me moment. It is a symbol that I have only seen in photographs and now I can look back at my own because now, I was there. The ground is getting soft and caving in, that's why the tower is leaning. The base of the tower is still intact and everything. I always thought the tower was halfway out of the ground and was leaning from inside the ground. Turns out, the entire base is uncovered and the soft ground is what makes the tower lean
The trip was short lived and we were on the train home from Pisa San Rossore (the train station closer to the tower) by 9:15am. Pisa can be accomplished in just a few short hours (or one hour like we did). They have passes to enter all of the museums and the church if you want to extend the day. Climbing up the leaning tower is also an option, but it was not open early in the morning when we were there.
I added another postcard to my collection and saw another famous landmark. Pisa was the shortest trip I ever took, but definitely a success.
BS
P.S. If the tower falls over, it may or may not have been my fault.