the blue blog archives: greetings from knitaly

First, the beach. That's why we came (the in-laws planned the beach vacation). The boys had never been to a beach before and they were not disappointed. They would sit by the water and let the waves crash around them and yell, "this is so fun this is so fun this is so fun!"

The Leaning Tower of Pisa really is that leany! I was so amazed by it. Usually you visit a city, it has interesting sites, you take pictures, but I just couldn't stop taking pictures of this tower. It is sooo cool!

We waited in line and climbed up the tower. Scaaaaaary! It's no wonder that kids under 8 aren't even allowed to go up and from 8 to 12, they have to be held on your hand the whole time. Climbing up the stairs was totally weird because when you got to the side where the lean was going in your direction, suddenly the uphill climb seamed easy, and then on the other side, it was soooo hard to go up each step. And in the middle, you were thrown to one side of the narrow staircase. "Keep to the right," as if you could do anything else! And then on the top, it was waaaay open. A little railing with three horizontal bars and that was it. And the level below it was even scarier. It wasn't flat, but consisted only of circular steps around the tower and you had to walk along the top step, which was higher than the railing, to get the the staircase for the next level. Yikes! But cool. Way cool.

The kids loved the tower too. Here's B donig the the obligatory pushing-over-the-tower pic. When you walk around the square, you see people posing for these pictures everywhere. It's so funny!

Hi from Italy! Just checking in very quickly from an internet cafe in Pisa and I see that with only one week left in sockapalooza 4, only one third of you are done knitting. Come on everyone, don't let your pals down. Knit, knit, knit!

I'm working on my second pal's socks at the beach and late at night (jetlag's great for late night knitting sessions!). They'll be done on time. I hope yours will be too.

(PS - No, I am not done with the book yet. So, keep quiet a little longer, kay? Oh and KNIT!)

posted by alison at 11:57 am | in sockapalooza 4 , vacation 2007

Comments

Pisa is a lovely place isn't it? I find the square with the tower impressive, but quite overwhelming.. if you go a few blocks away from the square, it's so much more relaxing.. happy holidays!

Posted by: ZhiWen at July 28, 2007 12:09 PM

Italy! That's great! The weather must be much nicer there than here in Germany (rainy and cold every other day.) Enjoy your trip! Btw, I absolutely love your baby bell bottoms. I just finished a pair and am starting another; wonderful pattern!

Posted by: Heather at July 28, 2007 12:34 PM

I'm knitting, I'm knitting! (And I'm almost done - just the toe of the second sock left.)

Posted by: Beth at July 28, 2007 12:35 PM

I'll be a little late - just a few days, but they will be done and mailed as soon after the 1st as possible! This whole selling one house / moving into new house / doing lots of renovation myself has put a serious crimp in my knitting time the last month or three.

Posted by: Jenipurr at July 28, 2007 2:39 PM

Hi! I'd have mailed you but I didn't find a contact information (I might be blind, though :)).

My sock pal hasn't entered a last name in the database and hasn't answered my emails. What should I do? I don't want to send the socks out without a full name.

Posted by: Secret sock knitter at July 28, 2007 2:40 PM

Don't worry about me... I'm nearly done, and just bought the yarn I need to finish.

Posted by: Andrea at July 28, 2007 4:01 PM

I am almost done just finishing the toe on the second sock. I haven't been able to reach my pal since May. Not sure what I should do? Do I still mail them to her or if she has dropped out do they go somewhere else? Does anyone know if she dropped out? Sorry, but if she isn't participating I don't want to send her my socks and have whoever she was supposed to knit for get stiffed.

So what do I do?
Thanks Barbara

Posted by: Barbara at July 28, 2007 6:03 PM

Italy? (man I'm so jealous!) Anyway, no intention here of letting down my pal. My second sock is underway. I just ended up with a lot of deadlines this summer. I am on track though! Sock two will be done in time and on its way!

Posted by: Carla at July 29, 2007 11:30 AM

Ooops! I flunked updating the database that my socks were finished. Fixed now. Sorry...

Posted by: Emmie at July 29, 2007 8:00 PM

Welcome to Italy!!!

Posted by: Typesetter at July 30, 2007 6:22 AM

Welcome to italy, :) i've been reading your blog for a couple of years, now.
susan - italian knitter, in spite of my name ;)

Posted by: pm10 at July 30, 2007 6:23 AM

LOL! I too have one of the the the obligatory pushing-over-the-tower pix but we refered to it as the obligatory hold-up-the-tower pic.

Photos really do not do justice to these landmarks. I really fell in love with David.

Posted by: Zelda Zunk at August 6, 2007 5:07 PM