I was beyond excited to finally be heading to the capital of amateur kung-fu, the unrivalled Mecca when it comes to untrained martial arts enthusiasts! I’m talking of course, about the Leaning tower of Pisa! When I first made my way through the winding streets leading up to it, I could sense the anticipation, the raw atmosphere…the energy that surged through this place.
As the tower came into view I began to see the other contestants, some were warming up, some were going through their routines – honing their abilities to the highest possible level. Their trainers photographed their every move (probably so they could review them later and work on form), and constantly coached them, pushing them on…
“RIGHT…RIGHT…STOP – NOW LEFT, NO! RIGHT…LITTLE BIT MORE…COME ON! COME ON!”
Sometimes there was the tough love approach –
“THIS ISN’T WORKING, YOU CAN’T DO IT. LET’S JUST GO.”
Either way it was a joy to see; people so dedicated to the craft that they had travelled far and wide, just to train here like so many budding martial artists before them.
I have to admit though, I was a little peeved at the response I received from people when I asked a simple question. I was met with dumb stares and confused expressions when I inquired if the Sensei lives at the top of the tower, and if that’s why they were all queuing…a simple yes or no would have sufficed.
But never mind. I headed back to the training field and tried to not let it bother me so much.
Like this story? Then why not like the Facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/storytimewithjohn YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!
John Lee Taggart 
the pizza tower is still standing!!!
LikeLike
this tower is still standing?
LikeLike
Not anymore – I punched it down with one punch. I had been training all my life for that moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha,It seems to me you could just push it a little with one finger and this thing falls.
LikeLike
Don’t take this away from me Charly ~ it’s all I’ve got!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! My daughter and I were there in July and I actually took a similar picture to yours of all the people pretending to push it. I thought your post was clever. Well played!
LikeLike
haha! Great minds think alike! 😀
LikeLike
Ha ha ha ha I have photos like that. We were beside ourselves watching people because the only way it looks right is if you are behind the camera…..ooooo enjoy Italy have a glass of red for me.
LikeLike
Hi John! Thanks for liking my new post. I’m a new blogger so it means more than you probably realise. I’m still trying to get the hang of it all. How would you sum up your blog in one sentence and why did you start blogging?
LikeLike
Hi Nancy! New(ish) blogger myself actually – just a few months in! I hope you keep posting! Errrr, good question! I suppose I would say that Storytime with John is just a collection of comedic tales from around the world that show how fun the world can be! I started blogging just to get a feel for how my writing may be received, and to just get my stories out there! So far so good 😀
LikeLike
when you were in china did you visit ‘tiger hill’? the tower there leans even more than the one in pisa. if i could only remember the name of the city where it leans.
LikeLike
It’s in Suzhou city, right? I have friends who went there – but I didn’t get there myself! 😦
LikeLike
yes, that’s it! cool place. the venice of china. sorta. tiger hill is probably my third or fourth favorite place in china.
LikeLike
Well the answer is absolutely yes, of course. Shame you didn’t stick around to meet him.
LikeLike
I’m just too impatient – I’ll meet him next time 😉
LikeLike
Thanks for the laughs, definitely needed it today. Hope your day is going well and that you defeat any formidable opponents you may encounter. HIYAH! ahaha 🙂
LikeLike
Literally laughing out loud from this, such a good story!
LikeLike
Pleased you got a kick out of it!
LikeLike
How did you get more this one picture in it?
LikeLike
*than
LikeLike
Nice. Like the action in the picture
LikeLike
Hahaha!! Yeah! And I was also one of these Kung Fu fighters too about 2 years ago! Our tour guide threw a contest on who gets to lean best the Leaning Tower of Pisa! You can imagine how many acrobatic stunts we all had to do to get the best shot. Looks really silly but it was so much fun! 🙂 nice post!
LikeLike
A KUNG-FU SENSEI LIVES ON TOP OF A LEANING TOWER?! I should use that for a story… but I should be careful in case he finds out and insists on fighting me when he meets me…
HI-YAH!
(Am I doing this right?)
LikeLike
You are doing marvellously well my young apprentice! 😀
LikeLike
I’ll never think of it in the same way again lol
LikeLike
These made me laugh out loud. Thank you! If I ever get to see it, I probably won’t be taking pictures of the tower now. 🙂
LikeLike