Cinque Terre

 

This place took our breaths away, it is such a stunning little place!  If you every get the chance to visit, its a must do! These two photos were the first thing we saw when we arrived at our hotel!

DAY ONE

We arrived at 3pm after a train from Pisa to La Spezia and then a short taxi ride to our accommodation which was about 3km south of the five fishing villages.  Our accommodation was a little cottage on the side of a hill over looking the sea, it took us 150 steps to get down to it and with all our luggage this was a good work out!)

We had arrived to late for a bus into Riomaggiore (this is the first of the five fishing villages) so we decided to walk down into the village, this took us about 50 minutes and was a stunning way to start our visit to Cinque Terre.

The walk down to Riomaggiore, Josh loves this hat!

Riomaggiore township

We spent the afternoon here swimming, jumping off rocks (well the boys did) and relaxing in the afternoon sun (anyone jealous?)

 

For dinner we grabbed some fresh pasta and pesto from the local dairy which was divine!  We also tried some Cinque Terre bubbly wine, this was like apple juice and went down a treat!

Sunset form the hotel dinning area

DAY TWO

We didn't want to waste anytime at this beautiful spot so we rose early and caught the first bus into Riomaggiore at 730am.  From here we caught the train to the last fishing village of Monterosso.

 

Monterosso Village

We sunbathed, swum and looked around this little town before heading off on what we thought would be a leisurely stroll to the next fishing village of Vernazza.

We did not realised what this walk would involved as we set off in our jandals and togs. . . . it took us an hour 40 to complete and was extremely hot with a lot of steps! But there were amazing views and it was well worth it!

   

Vernazza Village

We stopped at Vernazza for an hour or so and explored the small village with a couple of swims and some sunbathing.  There was also some great views the top of the castle / lookout.

  

View from the top of the castle in Vernazza The top of the castle in Vernazza

We set off on walk number two to Corniglia – this was more a less the same as walk number one. With similarly amazing views!

Corniglia was up off the water so we just explored the town and carried on to the next village as a walk down to the water and back would have taken us just as long as to walk to the next village.

 

Corniglia Village

We decided to just look around Manarola as it was getting late in the day.  Saving the last swim of the day for Riomaggiore.  

Manorola Village

By the end of all this walking we were tired and a little sunburned but pleased to have completed the walk of all 5 fishing villages.

That night for dinner we had fresh pasta and salami with more bottles of “apple juice”.

Pisa

It was a quick trip to Pisa, we had been told there was nothing in Pisa to see apart from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and it was so correct!

Basically our trip to Pisa involved catching a taxi from the train station with our bags to the Leaning Tower, taking the token pictures and having some lunch in the shade then we caught a taxi back to the train station, all of the was achieved in less than an hour and a half!

See you Pisa, we wont be back!

Token photo

 

Another token photo

 

 

 

All the tourist getting their leaning Pisa Tower photo

Florence

 

We arrived in Florence at 11am and after checking into our hostel we found a brochure which offered tours in Tuscany on either a four wheeler, horse back or vesper, Mike’s choice of vesper won as the guy recommended it over the horseback riding (Trace’s horse back riding will be next on the “to do list”)

We eventually got hold of the company and signed up for the 4pm tour which included a vesper tour around some small Tuscan villages and a traditional Tuscan meal.

We filled the afternoon with exploring Florence and looking around the local markets.

Gothic Duomo

Sculpture of David (replica) This is the only bridge in Florence to survive WWII – Ponte Vecchio 

At 4pm we meet up with our tour guide and a group of people who had also decided to do this tour.  After a half an hour wait we were wondering what we had really signed up for. A guy turned up with a mini van who could only fit 8 of the 12 people in it so we along with two Argentina girls drew the short straw and were left to go with the “crazy”guy in his little Mr bean car.

Trace jumped in the back with the two girls while Mike took the front seat.  We asked for safely belts and he told us we didn’t need them, We knew we did, so Trace shared with one of the Argentina girls.  This guys driving was crazy, we spent most of the time in the middle of the road!  There were a few close calls on the way out and we were so pleased to have made the 50 minute drive out to the village alive!

After the experience, Trace thought she would be fine on the scooter (first time ever driving anything with two wheels!).  We were given a test course around a little dirt track which we both passed with flying colours, little did we know this would be so different to the track we were actually going to be taking, main roads with quite a few cars on them.

We were in a group of 4 (two American's who lived in Vegas, who knew anyone actually lived in that city!)  The American lady failed the test as every time she got nervous she would rev the hand accelerator, this would send her in circles.  She has a few attempts at driving but her last attempt was the funniest, as she became more nervous the speed of the vesper increased and then she turned the vesper which made it fall and she did an army roll, it was quiet a site!

Off we set on our vespers, the American lady sharing with the guide.  Mike loved every moment of the tour, Trace just hung onto her scooter for dear life the whole way, facial expressions staying the same, the only thing going through her head, “look straight, don't move, oh well you only live once!

We both really enjoyed the tour, below are a few photos of things we saw . . .

 

 

 

 

A lucky statue - meant to grant wishes… We’ll see!!

 

Look straight don’t move!

 

 

 

 

Finally a smile! Right at the end of the tour…

After the tour we were then driven to an old Tuscan castle restaurant for dinner, this was delicious – spaghetti pasta, nochi and a few glasses of lovely wine. 

 

 

During conversations that night we meet up with an American couple (different to the ones that lived in Vegas) and Canada girl, after our wonderful marketing skills and talking about NZ we have convinced them to come over, so hopefully you will all get to meet them.

 

DAY TWO 

We had decided the night before that it would be a great idea to get up and see the sunrise in Florence seen as we were only there for a night, but after getting back to our hostel at 12.30pm this was not such a good idea.  We made it out of bed at 4.45am and thought we knew were we were going but it turned out we didn't and we got lost!  Eventually we did make it up Michelangelo hill and these are the photos we have to prove it below, better luck on the sunrise next time!

 

 

 

Looking down from Michelangelo hill at the river / bridges

Full view towards the city from Michelangelo hill

At 10am we boarded our train destined for a quick stop in Pisa then onto La Spezia and Cinque Terre . . . . . .

Venice

 

We didn’t drink enough beer in Munich. . . . . . We did survive the overnight train to Venice . . . . . .

Boarding the train in Munich at 9pm, we knew we were in for a long night!  We had two seats in a six seater cabin, sharing with three others, one smoker and Mr and Mrs Einstein (Trace names them this due to their hair sticking out at all angels and the geeky pairs of glasses). 

We both managed to get some sleep off and on.  Although after both waking at 1.30am and discovering the time we thought we may not make it!

It was an experience to catch this overnight train, and this trip is all about experiences, so thanks to all the team at Aegis for your input on our decision to take these tickets, we still love you guys!  … now

 

DAY ONE

We arrived at 6.30am and made our way to our hotel where we left our bags and went out to explore Venice.

We felt like little mice in a maze, there are so many narrow streets and you never knew which would end at a canal and which would have a bridge.  They say that half the fun in Venice is getting lost and we managed to do that on more than one occasion!

Canal just down from our accomodation

One of the many narrow streets we passed through

 

Another one of “those” photos

Trace having lunch

 

After getting a bite to eat – pizza! We headed back to our hotel to check in and have a little nana nap.

That evening we dined at an Italian bar, Trace having lasagne and Mike enjoying one of the best pizza’s he has ever had!

Below are some photos of Venice in the evening

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO

We had a slow start to today, after a much needed sleep in.

We headed down to the markets and shops near the Rialto Bridge.  Trace brought a bikini – getting ready for sail Croatia!

After a bit more wandering around we sat and had lunch in a park.

Later that afternoon we headed for a drink at a bar on the grand canal, Mike had his “new favourite” beer … Quickly requiring a second and Trace enjoyed a traditional venetian mix of white wine, sparkling water and apple juice.

Mike – feet up, taking a break

 

Trace enjoying her Venetian drink

  Capturing the moment

 

We went up the tower which gave us a great view of Venice.

 

 

The evening was spent eating pizza and pasta and walking around Venice – managing not to get lost. Oh and Trace bought another dress!