Chapter 23 "Pisa"

Pisa. Pop 96,000. Only one reason to go there. The Tower. The entire cities empire crumbled along with it. The nearby soil began to shift and as a result, the tower started its decline. It's not falling over, yet it wouldn't be that bad to hit a few tourists underneath it all taking pictures that somehow make them look like they are holding it up with a smile and a pinky finger. The tower is basically straight when you get off the train. Keep walking north and you will hit the Piazza del Duomo. It's a giant grassy field where you can find kids playing and people reading amongst the tower, duomo, baptistry and many other attractions.

Piza is a nice little town, just a short 6 euro train ride from Florence. It won't take you more then a couple hours to see all the sites. I personally tried to walk outside the boundries and found an old fort used during the war. Lots of ancient buildings from the war are still around on the outskirts of the city. Take time to see them amidst the busy tower. I wouldn't fly to Italy to see it, but it was nice seeing this famous landmark I had always heard about and seen laughed at in cartoons. Check it out if your in the area, maybe you could be the next strongman to hold it up.

Chapter 22 "Picture Perfect: August 6th 2006"

This next place is by far straight out of a fairy tale book. It is possibly one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen. Tucked away nicely between the largest mountains in the Swiss alps, is the city of Interlaken. About 2 hours from Bern, it sits nicely, lying between the Thunersee and the Brienzersee lakes, a true thing of beauty. It's a very tiny place (pop. 21,000) where it randomly finds tourists looking to escape the big city, and others who came to find something still out there in nature. Probably known for its extreme activities, Interlaken is a place you don't want to miss.

I loved it so much, I decided to spend my 25th birthday here. Though Mcdonalds has still infested this town, it has some of the nicest scenery you will ever see. Keep your camera ready for this one. The train ride to get here is worth the price of admission alone. It's not a normal train you see, its the "Golden view" express. Like something out of a fairy tale, its a twisty and climbing ride as you intertwine with the swiss alps like a perfectly flowing river. Sit at the back of the train, and you can see the front of the train enter the mountains as you turn. The crisp air will smell sweet and flow through your hair as you wind your way into the town. If you close your eyes, you might even picture yourself taking the 9 3/4 train to hogwarts.



Extreme sporting is very popular here. Anything from Skydiving, handgliding, canyoning, white water rafting and many more is available. These are just the summer activities, I'm sure there is a plethora of choices in the winter to do with snowshoeing and skiing. I personally choose a full day trip of white water rafting. You make your way with your raft to the tops of the swiss alps, only to get in the raft and ride it all the way to the bottom. Absoultely breath taking views and nature will capture your heart. I certainly felt like an outsider with all this nature around us, hopefully it will be there for a while. Not only is it a great day trip, but at the lodge at the end of the ride, you take a nice warm natural springs bath and enjoy a cooled beer. Absolutely magic. By the way, Im the one at the front of the boat under the wave! Delicious!



At the end of the day, a trip to the alps is just not a trip without a stop in Interlaken. The people are friendly and it will be a change for the better after seeing so much built up city. This is one place you owe it to yourself not to miss. Art work is only interpretation of real beauty, nature. Here you will see the most expensive artwork ever not made by man. Oh, and as my good buddy bullseye found out with the weather, Interlaken is best experienced in pants, even in august.

Enjoy :)