Venice, Italy

September 16, 2006

I just arrived in Venice after spending the night traveling on the train in a sleeper car from Monaco. Venice was beautiful but after 4-5 hours you pretty much have seen almost everything. I was supposed to stay 2 nights but only stayed one. It is very expensive and truly can be seen in 1 day if short on travel time. Many backpackers arrive early in morning, check their backpack at train station, and spend the day in Venice. Then back on the train to another place. The streets are narrow, not straight and change names every 50 feet. Everyone is lost. The Piazza San Marco {St. Mark's Square} is impressive as is St. Mark's Basilica. Watch out for the pigeons. lol

ITALY, Florence {Piazzale de Michelangelo Views}

Florence was my favorite city in all of europe. I went to the Academia to see the Statute of David and I also went to the Uffizi Gallery. There was a 2 hr. wait in line at both. My favorite thing was sitting in the piazzas, grabbing a bite to eat, having a glass of wine and watching the people go through their every day lives. I especially love the Piazzale de Michelangelo which overlooks Florence from a high hill. Many tour buses go there especially at sunset. There is also a copy of the Statute of David there. It is just a very beautiful city and the piazzas are washed with soap from street machines every night. There is also great music and street performers in the piazzas and in front of the Uffizi at night.

ITALY, Cinque Terre, hiking

 Sunday, September 24, 2006

Today I began hiking the trails between the villages. A lot of up and down on the cliffs along the Mediterranean. The views made it all worthwhile. Unfortunately I did not spend enough time in the other 4 villages.

ITALY, Vernazza (Cinque Terre)

September 25, 2006

Visited Vernazza and enjoyed the coast. Last day here, this trip. Living "la dolce vita", the sweet life.

ITALY, Riomaggiore

I took the train from Florence, stopping for 30 minutes in Pisa for a picture, and then on to Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre, also known as the Five Lands runs from Riomaggiore to Monterroso. There is a walking path that overlooks the Mediterranean and goes from village to village. Vernazza is perhaps the most beautiful of the 5. I stayed in Riomaggiore which was a simple village but beautiful with its many colored houses and businesses. The train runs frequently between the villages all day until about midnight. This area is without a doubt the most beautiful place that I have ever been.

ITALY, San Gimignano and Tuscany

September 26th and 27th, 2006

I caught the train from Riomaggiore to Siena and then caught a bus to San Gimignano for the 2 day walk through Tuscany. San Gimignanno has 14 medieval towers dating back to the 12th century. At one time there were 70 towers. No one seemed to know a walking route so the next morning I started walking along the highway on my way through the beautiful Tuscan landscape. Beautiful rolling hills, grape vines and olive trees decorate the countryside. I finished the 19 kilometer walk in one day rather than two.