Posts Tagged ‘cinque terre’

Tourists

Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

Despite it being October, there are still a heck of a lot of tourists roaming Italy.There are Germans seeking sunshine with their walking poles and backpacks. Plenty of Australians who do know how to mellow out. Enjoying the culture are masses of French,and the Brits are seeking cooler weather after a hot,humid summer, and the Americans are brighter and louder and stop to talk to anyone who they hear speak English!

But by far, the largest, most obnoxious, overwhelming group is the ASIANS!! Multiple cameras, high fashion clothing, young and silly and frequently pushy.I had one tap me on the shoulder and ask me to move as she wanted to take a picture and I was in the way. And they all have so much electronics it’s amazing they are noticing what’s around them.

Today the hikers were put out cause the rain had closed the trails and the locals were put out because all the trains and buses were packed with those crazy tourists.

I think I’d like to invite them all for a glass of wine, we could start world peace here in Cinque Terre!

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Cinque Terre: Amazing x 5

Monday, April 20th, 2009

vernazzatownWe bid a sad farewell to Mary and Ron at the Pisa Airport (”Galileo Galilei”) and with a change of undies in a backpack, headed up to the Cinque Terre (5 lands).  There are 5 incredible towns clinging to sheer rock faces still inhabited by families going back many generations.  Tourists have found this unique site (thanks to Rick Steves, and we all carried around his tour book) with its train and trails connecting all five towns.

We spent the first night in town two, Manarola, and found it charming and approachable.  We even ate the local seafood at mealtime.  The next morning we ventured up to Vernazza, #4, and deemed it better than Toast in Cinque TerraManarola.  It took us awhile to find a room.  We ended up with a shared bathroom across the hall, which was ok by us as the town was filling up.  At least we had found a place. 

When we got back on the train and went up to Monterosso, the #5, it became our new favorite  It had delightful beaches and was more spread out.  We had a great panino and prosecco outdoors at a place with tables nestled snuggly on a rock.

padlocksWe took the train down to the first town, Riomaggiore,where we hiked the “Via del Amore” – a short paved path between the 5 towns – with breathtaking sheer drops to the sea.  Steve clung to the wall. 

Many proposals of marriage happen here.  The seat and the padlocks that couples bring in honor of this romantic occasion are to seal the deal.

Then, it was back to Vernazza for pizza on the waterfront, and on to Il Pirata Cafe for two Canolli – the best yet!

A little rain did not dampen the adventure.

Back To Pisa

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Not here for but a  minute…

We are taking the Jensons back to the Airport tomorrow and will be continuing on up to Cinque Terra for a day or two.  I do not know if I will have any internet service.

I am so glad to have had the Jensons here , and to have been able to show someone how special this place is.  I have enjoyed their company a lot.

Because we will be in a new town, it might be a few days until you hear from me.  

Be safe.

xoxo

A Piece Of Pisa, Per Favore

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

When we saw the forecast for lots of rain, we made a route change and went to Parma!  It is a big city, but very nice and friendly (featured in John Grisham’s  book “Playing for Pizza“).  The Cinque Terra we figured would be all washed out, so why not head a mere 2 inches in the guide and see why Mr. Grisham fell in love with this place.  Those two inches contained the French Alps, just a few miles from Turin (site of the 2006 Winter Olympics).  

leaningsteveBeautiful, breathtaking, and…”Coast, we are nearly out of gas!”  Due to all of the switchbacks, we almost ran out of gas.  We arrived and had a great hotel and an awesome italian meal and a long walk around Parma before we headed to our reservation at Camp Darby in Pisa (a little-known military base with beautiful accomodations).

So heading out early we had to cross…guess what?   The Italian Alps!  But this time we took a major highway with buckets of tunnels and incredible engineering feats. 

We were scheduled to be in Pisa around 1 pm, but we got in at the ususal Morales-time table of 4:30 (at least it was still daylight).  We managed to go against the traffic, swimming upstream, and see the bapistrypisasights in town with fewer tourists as it was near closing. With the start of Easter week and school breaks, this place is bedlam.

We passed on climbing the  Tower, but were moved by our time in the Duomo and in the Bapistry.  The acoustics in the bapistry is such that every 30 minutes a guide comes in and sings a trio of notes spaced apart, but because of the echo and it’s 10 second length, it comes out sounding like 3 people singing at once (a full chord)!

It is amazing to actually be here and see this all in person.  And it blows me away to see and to know the effort, talent, devotion, and faith to build it all. Amazing!