Pisa Leaning Toward Closing Tower

One of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations is in danger of being closed to the public.

A government-appointed panel in Rome has recommended that Italy close the Leaning Tower of Pisa to visitors.

“The tower is extremely sensitive to winds and earth tremors . . . in some places the stonework is so damaged, it shows signs of breaking off,” a panel report said.

“Letting tourists in takes no account of the dangers. For the public’s safety, (the government) should look very closely at closing the tower and its vicinity.”

About 4 million people visit Pisa each year, and nearly 1 million pay $3 to make the spiral climb up 294 steps to the top of the 800-year-old white marble tower.

The 14,000-ton tower, which sinks about .04 inches a year, is now nearly 16.5 feet off the perpendicular.

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Starting Dec. 1, United Express will add six flights to its schedule from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, increasing its nonstop service to Sacramento, Oakland, Los Angeles and Fresno.

On the same date, the airline will begin nonstop flights between Stockton and Los Angeles.

Daily service between Oakland and Orange County will increase from three to six round trips. One round-trip flight will be added on the Sacramento-Orange County route, raising the daily total to four.

Fresno-Orange County service will be increased from three to four round trips, and Los Angeles-Orange County service will increase from three to five round trips.

On its Stockton-Los Angeles route, the airline will offer one flight in each direction.

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A new adventure-travel club, whose purpose will be to promote interest in daring and offbeat travel, is being formed in Ventura County. The club will feature such activities as slide and film presentations, guest lecturers, a newsletter and group travel. For more information, contact Alice DeBerry at (805) 648-2542 or Madeline Bechtold at (805) 640-1806.

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Daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Cancun, Mexico, will be inaugurated Dec. 1 by Mexicana, the airline announced.

Southbound flights will leave at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Cancun at 3:40 p.m. The northbound flight will leave at 4:20 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 7:10 p.m.

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Phoenix-based StatesWest Airline will offer direct service between three Los Angeles-area airports and the Colorado ski resort of Telluride beginning Dec. 16.

The 1 1/2-hour flights will leave LAX on Saturdays at 11:20 a.m., and Burbank and Orange County airports on Saturdays at noon. All flights are scheduled to arrive in Telluride at 3:45 p.m. Return flights depart Colorado at 4:15 p.m.

The service will be in operation through April 7, 1990, with round-trip fares starting at $358 based on three-week advance purchase.

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British Columbia Ferry Corp. has made a change in its schedule for trips through the Inside Passage for the summer of 1990. The 450-passenger Queen of the North will begin its voyages May 31 and continue until Sept. 30.

The ship will depart Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island May 31, then make the voyage on all even-numbered days in June, July and September and on odd-numbered days in August. The return trip from Prince Rupert just south of the Alaska border will be made on odd days in June, July and September, and on even days in August.

This schedule is the opposite of previous years.

Sailing time for the 274-nautical-mile voyage is 15 hours, with departures from either terminal at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call (604) 381-1401.