Trekking the Cinque Terre

No time for breakfast had to get to the train station to catch the bus for the tour, we started out at 8 am it was sunny in Florence the guides were great and funny. They divided us in 2 groups Chris who was from Florence but who lived a most of his life in Seattle and Stefano. When we were heading for a comfort stop Stefano kept saying it is coming up and when we arrived he said there in the forest haha. Then they told us not to buy any candy at the rest stop as it would not be good to spoil our lunch.


It was cloudy when we arrived in La Spezia I was disappointed but talked myself into not worrying and just enjoy. Chris said first was we had to hurry to make the train and man were we cooking I kept up. I think the first town was Manarola.

Early on I made friends with Debbie from Australia and we tried to keep an eye on each other we took the train to Corniglia and did a quick walk through and then we had to take 365 steps up to the restaurant. Ristorante Cecio I was ready to do it but Debbie was not up to it so we decided to opt for the shuttle to the top along with some other women, the shuttle took forever in coming so most people were partly through their salad. We had a wonderful lunch I was brave and had the seafood the included octopus and squid and it was tasty, also had pesto pasta a first for me it was good. I sat with some other girls from Aussie and one from Baltimore she was on break from college in Brussels I noticed her t-shirt Beatles and we got to talking said her mother was fan and she too loved the Beatles and so did her friend and when they were kids the best part of the day was sit and listening to the Beatles.

Trail in Cinque Terre

Ok I only hiked down

in the Sea the beautiful sea

beautiful art on a wall

Then we had to get going there was no shuttle for the way down we had missed it and we really had to get down those 365 steps fast. Then we were off again for another walk again quite fast and another village I will have to remember the names later and post photos, Then we were really rushed and Chris was walking along side me clapping his hands encouraging me to keep going and counting down to how many minutes. We got there and nothing after awhile we were told the train was deleted and we had to wait and the next one would be about 45 minutes. Of course this was not the tour fault but we were treated to drinks and I had wine.



Finally the lòng hike which I decided not to do between all climbing we would be doing and being even more rushed because of the train. We were told not to get off the train in the next town but go right to Montresso . With the hiking time being shortened and more people dropped out we stayed on train to next stop it was beautiful. Debbi and I took photos of each other and we also went in to the Mediterranean Sea and oh how could I forget the sun finally decided to show up just as we arrived it could not have been more perfect if planned. So the sea was lovely we walked and talked and rested a bit. Then we decided to climb up to the statue of St Francis of Assisi and a dog that was a pretty good climb but the views made it worth it. We then walked a bit though the village looking at the photos from the flood from last October.

Then it was time to take the boat and it was great we passed all the villages again and we got great shots from the boat and then we arrived our last stop and we were able to do the last walk which was Lovers Lane but it was so quick not to miss the train and Chris was coaching me to keep going I made it with minutes to spare this was a great tour.

Our Boat

Montresso 

climbing to Ristarante Cecio 

hanging out in  Montresso 

St Francis Montresso 

The church of Saint John the Baptist Montresso

Florence you take my breathe away

When I arrived in Florence I had to figure out where my hotel was it took a bit of looking at a map on a sign and asking someone but finally headed off in the right direction I checked into my hotel which turned out to be a bit nicer than I expected and larger room than I normally had. The bathroom itself was larger than some rooms I had stayed in.  I decided to wander around a bit and have a bite to eat.

This morning after a breakfast buffet with quite a lot of choices I headed out to explore Florence I was close to the main areas I wanted to see and coming up to Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (know as the Duomo) was totally awesome it stood there so beautiful all black and white. After looking around I went to the square to meet the free walking tour of Florence,  It was interesting, we covered a lot in 2 hours. At one point a Gypsy walked up to us to beg for money and at the moment her cell phone rang so she had to walk away to answer it, oh yes a poor Gypsy begging but has a cell phone, only a few others noticed this.

After the tour walked back to the Duomo and walked around the general area I could not believe all the statues  along the Uffizi and the adjacent Piazza della Signoria is bordered on the south edge by the Loggia di Lanzi which has several statues in it. Among them are Perseus standing over the slain Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women see.

http://piazza-signoria.com/


Totally awesome and I wandered up and down the alleyways for hours. I could just not get enough.

Ya never know what you might see down some alleyway

The Fountain of Neptune
at Signoria Square

Some random thoughts on Venice

View from plane

Tonight some time to blog my random thoughts.

Venice well it was good but not great that was to come.

I had wrong directions they were from the train station and should have been bus station it would have saved me walking and most of the bridges. I knew there were  bridges but did not expect slanted steps. A man took my case across the main bridge of course this was not for free and I paid him 2 euro he look disgusted like he wanted more well. After that I was prepared and just yelled NO they understand that. I do not like being hassled like that.

I got lost and asked people finally some man walking home with his family looked at the map and then as his family went in to the house he said I am going to help her find her hotel and he walked me to it carried my case over bridge I was so close I can’t believe I missed hotel signs, but then again not where I expected. The guy at check in at the hotel said oh he taxi man. I think he wondered why I did not pay him he though he brought me from the bus station I explained I had asked for directions.

The room was nice larger than London the bed very comfy and I then went in search of food had nothing since brekie except a roll. I found a toasted Nintetta sandwich that was its name it was delicious I took it out and went and sat on church steps to eat and watched some nutty group on a tour. They got drunk on wine and everyone near me was annoyed as people were enjoying a nice evening out or some were reading. So some people actually got up and walked away the group was most annoying.

Tuesday

I was in bed by 9.30 had a bit of sherry and passed out slept till 7.30. breki served in room roll croissant cappuccino and assorted like packaged treats I saved for later.

I walked to San Marco you could follow signs in alley ways  high up on the Wall did not notice at first, found it after taking millions of photos on the way. San Marco church beautiful outside I did go in and it was ok I have seen better, plus it was dark. I messed up here because I did not read my print out that I had brought along and missed the chance to go on top get views from above oh well, was not worth standing in line again for. I took photos of pigeons many people were posing and having them land I had one land on me but no one to take photo.I walked around the

I decided to try some pasta and lets just say its over rated I can make pasta just as good at home and I am not a cook as to what I had there the lack of sauce was amazing, oh well I tried it.

I walked and gazed and sat and people watched then back to my room to leave my coat there and my zoom lens and potty and get more water and rested a bit wound up walking back to San Marco on the other side of the canal exploring places and churches.

Windows

Wednesday

I woke up to rain during the night and then sirens and church bells started going off around 7 am I think this is warning for flood fell back to sleep kept waking up 8.30 was breki same as before but that was ok I showered and rested rain heavy so why go out. I went back to sleep and finally got up to check out 10.30.

Then the rain let up some and was not heavy I went in the church near the train and it was beautiful one of the nicest yet then I walked up and down alleys stopped in stores from rain it finally stopped around 1.

I started towards San Marco to do the vapetto # 1 back I saw Sofia Taggert and you just take it across the canal and not far like a mini gondola oarsman and all you had to stand and let me tell you rough water was hard I had to keep moving afraid I fall in but glad I did it and lived to tell the tale.

managed to snap without falling in

More looking and then on the vapetto and off I went all I can say is I am so damn sorry I did not do it on Tuesday ( I tried to get a ticket but machine did not work) as I missed so much we stopped at this church I had seen a Saluta which I had tried to find out what it was the day before and how to get over to it and the woman at tourist place did not know of course no time to get off enjoyed my tour down the canal regardless of not great weather but hindsight only brings pain.

I had to get my suitcase I left plenty of time to eat at a place I ate the night before where I had bis pasta I was going to have a yummy looking sandwich but that was not to be. I suddenly could not find my train ticket I looked through my folders 3 times was semi hysterical went to customer service in a panic I had emailed it to myself but thought lot of good that would do me but the lady let me log on to my email and said that is why we suggest sending to email.

I grabbed a sandwich nowhere as nice and sat in train and station and ate it and then got on the train to Florence. PS I found the ticket I had it all along of course  

The Moon Walk London Breast Cancer Marathon

Moon walk girls

 Last night I ran into some girls who were doing the London Moon Walk which is the breast cancer marathon they actually walks 26 miles through the night I took pics and they wanted me in a picture and they were so excited that I was from New York and taking their photos and then we exchanged emails as they took one of the group with me. It was fun.

This morning I headed over to Hyde Park where the Moon Walk was ending and ran into those still crossing the finish line or those who were heading home I applauded every time I saw a group and said well done. One woman had sat down at the end of the walk then she laid down and started shaking I got someone to call the paramedics I stayed around to see if she was ok she was she wasn’t a young one either. I got some girls in their decorated bras to pose.

Wild bras

 I walked through Belgravia and saw the apartment on Chapel St where Brian Epstein died I had a feeling I was there a very long time ago, felt familiar standing there. Also ran across the Bag of Nails where PAUL Mc and Linda met again a feeling of de javu from a long time ago.

I later went to church St Paul Convent Garden (church of the Actors) and took part of the Punch and Judy 350 year anniversary church service. The service was very festive a brass band came in playing When the Saints Come Marching in and Punch was up at the pulpit with the minister during the service.

 I bought a cod fish cake as I never had one it was pretty good and then I watched a May Pole Dance that was quite entertaining and this one little girl was so adorable I loved watching her. She was so serious trying to do all the proper steps and so tiny at times she was standing on her tip toes. I had my photo taken with some Pearlies.

London Again

Yesterday I arrived to sunshine yee haw not much sleep the guy next to me would not shut up so it was annoying after dinner he went to sleep was out cold  I slept maybe 1 1/2 hours turned out he took a sleeping pill and he was a zombie when he came too. I had to help him with his paperwork he couldn't come to read properly. When he stood up he could barely walk I had to keep him from falling over. Please explain why you would take a pill that lasts for 8 hours 3 hours before you land.

My room at the Grapevine is small and I mean small had to move the little table around to get my suitcase in but have my own toilet and shower  breki is cereal but that's fine I had cereal cocktail which means mixing up a few kinds of cereals and roll and tea.

I rested about 30 mins and then headed of to St James Park I walked it was about a mile I was trying to think where I would come in to the park but dawned on me as I got closer just where that would be. I love St James park to say the least.  When I am at the dentist being tortured I picture the park to calm me down and also at other crisis times. I was looking for the Pelicans but did not see them which is unusual I had my token photo taken on the bridge I have quite a series now.

I ran across some men feeding the squirrels and had to take photos of course It was a good day and I stopped at my local kabab place and had garlic sauce with fries I turned in at 8.30 and slept till almost 7.30 which is pretty late for me.

St James Park

never tire of St James park