Let me see, where was I...oh yes...

Day Four...Wednesday, September 9th...

Lucca

We boarded the train from The Cinque Terra to La Spezia early and after changing trains we head to Lucca and a new adventure. We are staying at a B&B (about two ? really long blocks from the train station in Lucca).

They told us it was a short walk to the gate and that the B&B was just inside the gate...San Pietro...we walked for fifteen minutes and then got lost (in a town with a wall around it)...could not find the B&B so we sat down for coffee and a pastry and relaxed...fortifying ourselves to commence the quest...and...I think that was the right thing to do because we found the B&B almost immediately...coffee in Italy is brain food...caffe lunga...

Lucca is two towns, the Etruscan/Medieval/ town surrounded (4 km around the wall) by a Renaissance era wall/earth rampart that is wide enough at the top to accommodate a paved trail about 20 to 30 feet wide for bikes, walkers, joggers and runners without any running into the other.

The first thing we notice is that most everyone in the old city (The new city is just that, new, much 20th century construction and some late 19th century) is riding bicycles...men in suits, women going to market and their work, some dressed in very fashionable outfits. Some tourists...not as many as one might expect, and of course the children. Lucca is a pedestrian and bicycle paradise. After checking in with our non English speaking hostess we look for some place to get a coffee.

After checking in with our non English speaking hostess we look for some place to get another coffee.

Now time for some exercise... we rent bicycles and ride around the town as well as around the wall...4Km...completely encircling the town. The wall is about thirty feet above the town and surrounding area so there are some nice overlooks and views as we ride our bikes twice around.

For some odd reason the pictures from Lucca have decided to hide form us so these are the only two we can find? (A hint, here, transfer your digital photos to disc while traveling...internet cafes with plenty of computers are everywhere in Italy).

Dinner is at the Trattoria Gigi, Piazza del Carmine...relaxed and intimate with outdoor and indoor dining. Great food!!! Some pasta, raosted meats, broccolini and of course, lots of "corposo" Tuscan wine.

We retire early (11:00PM) and look forward to Thursday and packing more Italy into our 14 days...Tuscany, next...but first...

Day three, afternoon and evening...

Not much more to say...a relaxing afternoon on the terrace and then dinner at another fantastic spot in Monterosso...the next time we have to stay in Vernazza! Need to rest this night because tomorrow we are off to Lucca to a new experience...to a place in Italy to which we have not previously been.

Oh...the picture...I cannot recall but I think that it is Manarola?

So...day three...September 8, 2010...

A day in The Cinque Terra...

From Monterosso one can walk (hike) along the coast and visit all five towns in a day. The hike, uninterupted by any long breaks, takes four to five hours. We plan to walk the easy part, Riomaggiore to Manarola, about a nice 30 to 45 minute stroll. We board the local train in Monterosso and in less than fifteen minutes we are de-boarding in Riomaggiore. After purchasing our pass to the park (the walkway/hiking path is part of the national park system) we climb a few steps to the "trail". This part of the trail is paved with a flagstone like rock and is more like a long winding fireplace hearth (picture that?).

The views along the way continue to be spectacular!

About 2/3 of the way to Manarola we stopped at a little pizzeria for a beverage and snack. The bruschette was average to good and very satisfying (along with a nice glass of wine). Photos to the right, the "trail" and an interesting rocky point along the trail...

On to Manarola and after a visit to the swim lagoon and a few minutes for another snack, we board the train and in five minutes are in Vernazza for lunch! (Yes, we eat well and often when in Italy).

The photo to the right, Manarola swimming lagoon...

September 7th, 2009

It was Monday afternoon and we boarded a train to Genoa (from Milan) but just a comment about the train station in Milan...WOW! I think this was a Mussolini project...not certain of that fact but will check it out and report. Anyway, it is quite impressive. If you have ever been to Union Station in Washington DC you would be similarly impressed...for different reasons, of course. (Okay, I checked my facts and the original "Milano Centrale" was built in the 1860's and was replaced by a new station inaugurated in 1931 and under the influence of Mussolini, designed by at least two different renowned architects, one, Ulisse Stacchini, who concentrated on the iron/steel work canopy (Mussolini architect) and the other the building itself...Louis-Jules Bouchot started by Victor Emmanuel III but completed under Mussolini).

We changed trains in Genoa and arrived in Monterosso al Mare, the most northerly of the five towns in The Cinque Terra. We planned to stay with "Manuel" (Manuel's Guest House) and called to let him know that we would be arriving around 7PM. We enjoyed a nice stroll from the train station to the center of the "old town" and stopped to ask a fellow in one of the tiny squares how to find this obscure B&B and that gentleman just happened to be Manuel, in person! He called his nephew, and thanks for that because the nephew carried our two carry-on bags and one of our two small backpacks up the 130 steps to the apartment!

Upon arriving at the top of these steps for the first time we were greeted by a fantastic view (the first photo) and two very cordial couples with whom we enjoyed, perhaps, the coldest and tastiest beer I have ever had...or...maybe it was enhanced by the trek up those steps...but no matter what the reason, the view, the conversation, the beer and the wine that evening were all great!

We had a late dinner at a restaurant we were familiar with from a previous visit and slept well!

OK...so...I am a bit late in posting 'cause the trip took place back in September...but...

Italy 2009!

...here goes...day one...

We arrived in Milan, after more than 15 hours of flying (with a nice layover in Atlanta and lunch there with my sister and brother)and jumped on the train to the center of Milan where we immediately explored the Duomo...very intricate, lots of detail and quite a view from the roof! Yes, one can climb to the roof and have great views of Milan...

Later that day (September 6th) we viewed Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper (no photos allowed, although many were snapping pix until someone got caught and yelled at by a very excited docent)...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo)

Because we snacked all day dinner was not remarkable but we look forward to Monday morning...

Day two...Milan...

We're off to walk the center city area...see the high fashion shops, La Scala and whatever else we can cram into a few hours because at three this afternoon we board a train to Genoa and ultimately, The Cinque Terra!

So...a couple photos of Monday in Milan...

High fashion shops...

...and a shopping mall... oh!... what a shopping mall!

La Scala...wish we could have been there for an opera!

(by the way...lunch at a small tratorria...outside...risotto for Jeannie and penne bolognese for me with a glass of wine)... and then more walking tour...

Our modestly priced hotel in Milan was Arco Romano...convenient, clean, comfortable and pleasant...not luxurious...but a great place to sleep well and cheap!

http://www.hotelarcoromana.it/search.asp?lang=en