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Published: February 6th 2007
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Day 10 & 11 Manarola Cinque Terre
Of all the places I didn’t want it to rain it was the cinque terre. And what do ya know, it poured!!! Cinque Terre stands for the ‘five lands’ five small traditional fishing villages just south of Genoa on the northern Italian coast. They are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. I had chosen to stay in Manarola and booked a bed and breakfast for mum and I. Da Baranin was up the top of quiet a large hill, but we managed to make it with our packs on. Our room was small but adequate so as soon as we arrived we set off for a roam around the village. We ended up at a lovely small restaurant by the water for traditional cinque terre food - homemade pesto pasta! The next day we set off for what turned out to be the two largest of the walks in the cinque terre national park - from Manarola to Corniglia and Corniglia to Vernazza. Manarola is the smallest and most traditional of all the villages, Corniglia was lovely, very clean and surrounded by vineyards and Vernazza has a beautiful marina with tiny fishing boats
moored. After spending some time relaxing after our mammouth walk, we caught the train back to Riomaggore, as it was too rough on the sea to catch the ferry. Riomaggore was a lot smaller and colourful, but we only had a short stroll there before heading back to Manarola for our last evening. It continued pouring with heavy rain, so we ventured only as far a Billy Trattoria - a small restaurant near our accommodation. The waiter was extremely gruff and spoke very little English but with the help of some other foreigners in the place we managaed to have a lovely seafood pasta meal. Next day, off to Florence!!
Day 12 & 13 Florence
We caught the train from Manarola to La Spezia and then into Florence. I had cranky pants on as soon as we arrived, as Florence was an onslaught on my senses after being on the tranquil coast of Italy! Anyway Mum and I got out and about and saw some of the sights - the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Vecchio. We enjoyed a meal on the square, watching the people swan by. The next day we ducked into a local jeweller
and I bought some beautiful pendants for Liani and myself and Mum got a new watch! Off then through the market where we got stuck and needless to say - parted with some money!! We then spent 2 and ½ hours lined up waiting to see Michaelangelo’s David - which I must say was worth the wait. Again back through the market and I bought Liani a funky leather satchel for work and countless other pieces of clothing! One of the best markets I have ever been too! We asked one of the stall owners who had been surfing in Aus where to go for dinner and he recommended Za Za Trattoria in a square near our place. Here we both had one of the best meals of our whole trip! Next day, Roma!!
Day 14 & 15 Roma
Oh my…. I have never been in a place so big, so noisy and so filthy. But that’s Rome and everybody seems to hate it, but its just one of those places you have to go when travelling Europe. So on arrival we found our place to stay - WRH Suites near the main station. After Franco checked us
in, we were off on foot to The Spanish Steps - which were full of people and scaffolding! And the Trevi Fountain - another monument packed with tourists! We managed to find our way to Piazza Navona - a square Luke had recommended with local artists and resturants a plenty. We found a nice place there, Mum had a terrible pizza and I didn’t venture past the pesto pasta! We managed to jump a local bus, not pay for a ticket and find our way home after sampling some local gelati! Next day off to catch open top bus, only to find there were demonstarions in the city that were causing chaos, so again we jumped a local bus and made our way to St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. After a long line that moved very well, we hooked up with an English speaking tour and were lead through the Basilica. It was truly worth having a guide explain all the history although by the end of it Mum and I were exhausted and decided to roam the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums by ourselves. The Sisitine Chapel is awe inspiring - to think Michaelangelo at age 31
could have painted such a vast fresco is phenomenal. And the Last Judgement painted by him in his 60’s is just as amazing.
Then we were off to the Collessum - by this time I was over the traffic, noise and rudeness of Rome, so we went to sit on the grass and just take in the views of this massive monument and the Roman Forum. Not long after sitting down, a man came up to Mum and was asking her for directions to something. He just didn’t seem to understand what we were saying, and it was around this time that I became aware of something pulling on my foot near my bag. I turned quickly to see another ……. Trying to steal my back pack! Luckily I had the pack twirled around my foot, so I became aware of the movement, if I hadn’t of done this, my bag and money would have been long gone! Needless to say this was a very unpleasant experience and sealed my dislike of Roma!!!
All in all 15 days on the train through beautiful parts of Europe with Mum was very enjoyable and an experience neither of us will forget.
Stay tuned for more adventures!!!!
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Jena
Jena Hazlerigs
Thank you!
Thank you for posting your pictures - you really do have an eye for some great images!