http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/robinlnu/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from robinlnu en-us Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:18:27 +0000 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:18:27 +0000 Saturday June 6 2009 First thing I did this morning was to go outside in Times Square with my camera in search of good coffee. I found one a few blocks away. I found it fantastic that the road in the center of Times Square and in front of our hotel had been blocked off and it was instead full of lawn chairs allowing persons to sit and enjoy the lights all around. The morning was sunny and b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-418256.html Thursday June 4 2009 Our flights do not leave Rome until around noon and so we're able to leisurely get to the airport. Our breakfast is across the street at The Yellow Bar and we enjoy a full English breakfast as Jeff says a heart attack waiting to happen. It does taste good though to eat eggs and bacon and all that stuff we had not been eating throughout Italy plus I do love a grilled t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-418255.html Wednesday June 3 2009 Walking from the apartment to Ferrovia train station the next morning bright and early was quick since not many people were yet up and about plus the fact that we'd already done it quickly the day before. Our train left Venice about 900 or 930 a.m. We were traveling on the EuroStar which is a fast train that speeds up to 186 miles per hour. It only took about 4 hou http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-418253.html Tuesday June 2 2009 Todayrsquos plan was to all meet up at the Rialto Farmerrsquos Market in the morning so that we could each purchase our ingredients for what we were preparing for this nightrsquos dinner at the apartment. Jeff and I left early as we were both ready to go and it was too nice to just sit inside when we could be outside in Venice. On the way over he and I both notice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-418252.html Monday June 1 2009 The next morning Jeff and I wanted to visit the Rialto Farmerrsquos Market near the Rialto Bridge. We found the Farmerrsquos market which was bustling with many stands selling all kinds of fruit and vegetables all of which looked amazingly delicious. I just wanted to go crazy and buy everything there it all looked so good. We bought some cherries strawberries a co http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-418251.html Since I had been to Venice only seven months prior I start to talk about what they can expect when we get to Venice. How there are no vehicles at all within the City and how you use either your feet or the Vaporettos to get around wherever you want to go. We arrive in Venice and go to the ticket sales kiosk and buy passes to use the Vaporettos. The No. 1 Vaporetto arrives and we all get on. J http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-412613.html Day six May 30 Saturday Norcia Hotel Grotta AzzurraToday's hike features magnificent vistas over the wild Piano Grande a vast plain ringed in by mountains. Here the colorful display of wildflowers is magnificent especially during the spring and summer. You finish in the remote village of Castelluccio which sits upon a hill in the midst of this stark beauty from whence you are transferre http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/blog-412320.html Day Five Hike May 29 Friday from Preci to Norcia Hotel Grotta AzzurraOur guide states From Preci a splendid route ascends steadily to meet an ancient path winding through trees to the majestic Abbazia di San Eutizio once one of the cradles of the Benedictine monastic order. From here a medieval trail leads across the flank of Monte Macchialunga through the village of Campi and along the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/blog-411295.html Day Four May 28 Thursday Preci Hotel agli ScacchiTodays walk starts with a transfer to the ancient village of Visso in the Monti Sibillini National Park. From here you rise steadily to emerge onto grassy moors fringed by rocky peaks where you can sometimes spot deer and foxes. The views are superb and improve as you ascend along the broad spine of Monte Lungo. Later as you wind gradually http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Abruzzo/blog-410897.html Day three May 27 Wednesday Ferentillo Terni Abbazia San Petro in ValleYou start the day with a transfer to the holy mountain of Monteluco and the scenic Porelle pass. From here you head through deep woods to ascend to another panoramic pass where you join a medieval stone footpath. This beautiful trail passing through an abandoned hamlet and a quaint village winds uphill for more sweepin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/blog-410892.html Hike Day one May 25 Monday Spoleto Hotel ClitunnoToday's daily itinerary statesWe recommend you arrive in Spoleto by train. After your arrival you have time to explore the town one of Umbria's finest hilltop towns. The focal point is the fanshaped Piazza del Duomo site of the magnificent 12th century cathedral with a superlative fresco cycle by Fra Fillipo Lipi. Other important mon http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Spoleto/blog-410802.html Jeff and I had to switch trains to go to Assisi. Once again we had to ride a bus into the town of Assisi. Fortunately our hotel Hotel Berti was located just inside the city walls. We got into our room and since no one was there yet we decided to walk up the hill to the Basilica of St. Francesco. Jeff and I walked all around the Basilica and viewed the lower church as well as the upper chur http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Assisi/blog-410795.html The bus dropped us off at the main Piazza Quaranta Martiri in Gubbio. I had directions on how to get to our hotel. We walked up a very steep cobblestoned road that was only wide enough for one small car. We came upon a small store that sold various important sundries and we made our first purchase of wine. Jeff wanted to buy local and so we purchased a couple bottles of red wine grown in the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Gubbio/blog-410780.html On Wednesday May 20 2009 I left my home in Jackson Hole Wyoming to fly to Rome Italy to meet up with five other friends. We had contracted a SelfGuided tour using Girosole to hike 7 days6 nights in Umbria. In using the tour company they made all of our hotel reservations and provided us with maps and detailed instructions for each days hike. Each morning we would deposit our luggage d http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-410770.html