Pisa at Sunset

I almost didn't go to Pisa because if you've seen the tower once, you are set right?  Others tried to convince me though, that there was much more to the town than the tower AND it is only a 25 minute train ride from here.  People fly around the world to see the tower and I can't ride a train 25 minutes to see if the tower is worth a second look?

I also remembered that the last time I was in Pisa I was using disposable film cameras because I'd dropped my camera two stories onto concrete on the Italian Riviera.  See, the Riveria is not all fun and games and romance. 

With a fully functioning camera, I headed off after class one day to catch a bit of the golden hour in Pisa.  A lot of people comment on how far Pisa Centrale is from the tower (just about a 20-30 minute walk). If you are coming from Lucca, that train will often stop at Pisa S. Rossore station which is just a couple of blocks from the Field of Miracles where the tower stands. 

I tried walking around the city, I really did, but I just wasn't getting the "I love this place" vibe.  Sorry Pisa. 

I admit the tower itself is a pretty phenomenal site--you can't help but wonder how this thing hasn't fallen over.  I didn't climb it again but it's a nice little climb if you haven't done it.  The steps are grooved and worn from hundreds of thousands of visitors climbing up.  

I'm actually growing to like the electronic view finder in the Fuji X-E2 that I hated, hated, hated at first.  Technology evolution right?

I've heard many a photographer rave about Fuji's black and white settings.  True enough that you can change any photo into black and white in post processing, but black and white is more than desaturation of a photo.  In camera, it was pretty interesting to see shadows, darks and lights that are not always as obvious in color. I found I did adjust the settings differently in B&W.  Funny how I type that and then lead with a B&W that is mostly grey and sadly missing some whites.

Side story--I had an Italian cut and color this week...what an experience.  Eight weeks is a long time without any hair lovin and so I asked for a recommendation from my teacher and headed off to make an appt.

Filippo spoke minimal english and started out the appt asking in broken english if I was ready "for a really big change" and motioned an above the ear cut.  That was almost the end of the Italian hair adventure there.  After he reassured me that he would only cut off the dry ends, we were good to go.  I walked away with great color but sadly minus 5 inches of hair.  It was relatively painless except for when Filippo pointed to the hair graveyard on the floor and asked quite pointedly, "Why?!"   I had managed to to surprise a veteran hair guy with my over-the-top, dry-as-the-sahara, feels-like-straw-and-twigs hair and you know he's seen some pretty bad hair.  After explaining to him in caveman Italian something about Beyonce caramel highlights and blondish ends, getting a bit of ombre on last year, and all the other words that sounded pretty stupid as I said them out loud, I hung my head in shame as he told me "No, only natural color for you."  Ouch, but I have to admit I love having healthy shiny ends again.

If I tilt my head to the side, my hair looks longer. 

The crowds thin out around 6ish as the last tour buses pull out.  It's a bit of a shame really because Pisa at sunset and at night is definitely worth a visit.