Sep 10, 2005 - La Spezia, Italy

This section should really start with the places we stopped on our way to La Spezia. Our first stop on our journey was to Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower...how could we possibly skip that?! So we stopped at the Pisa train station, left our luggage, and set out to find this amazing leaning tower...after a bus ride we were finally there. And what we saw was a leaning tower! But what nobody seems to know is about the other beautiful buildings all around the tower! There is a dome as well as other buildings, all of which are beautifully...

Sep 9, 2005 - Thunderstorms. Tilting Bell Towers and Trattoria

We started the day with brilliant sunshine at 7:00am and by 8:00am the clouds had gathered with resonating thunderclaps and brilliant lightning, accompanied by torrential rain. The planned walk to the Leaning Tower looked as though it was in jeopardy. By the time we had breakfast the rain had eased and we decided to set off for the 30 minute walk. Nan had reconnoitered the area yesterday after her arrival and guided us in a sure footed manner right round the piazza, almost to where we had started before deciding that, just maybe, she had...

Sep 4, 2005 - Genoa, Italy

Genoa was our last stop on our cruise, before returning to Rome. We had another shore excursion and saw some truly beautiful cities. Our first stop was Portofino. We took a ferry there...the ride was quite scenic. The small town of Portofino is amazing. All of the buildings are around the small harbor that has lots of little row boats, as well as huge yachts. The buildings are painted different colors and are basically all connected. We wandered around the streets and just enjoyed the beauty. Our next stop was Santa Margherita, where we had...

Aug 29, 2005 - Vernazza, Italy (Le Cinque Terra)

Le Cinque Terra. Stayed in the village of Vernazza for two nights with day hikes between the five villages\lands. Sophie, from France and whom I met in Fiji, was able to meet up in Nice at the end of my stay there and then travel in Italy. We ended up staying an extra two nights in Nice simply because the trains were full going to Genova, Italy. All of the Italians were heading back from there vacation to France. Vernazza-This place was beautiful. The small towns full of color and people really friendly. The way to get a place to stay is to...

Aug 22, 2005 - Monte Carlo, Portofino, Ropollo, Santa Margarita & St. Tropez

Bon jour!!! (Our photos will be posted tonight. Got to get to shore right now!!!) I am so sorry to have not written you sooner but since I last wrote Vic and I have been going nonstop!!! On Friday morning after a brisk walk along the Promenade de Angeles and saying our farewells to Nice we drove into Monte Carlo, Monaco, and got settled into our cruise ship cabin. We got what they call an "early embarkation" that allows us to board in the morning instead of late afternoon, for a fee of course. That way we could put our bags on board, have...

Aug 3, 2005 - cinque terre

liguria, italy. 5 days of heaven..the most amazing place ...five fishing villages along the italian riviera. the greenest mountains, clearest water..you could be in the middle of the medditeranean sea and look down and see your feet. it was something you would see in your dreams..christina took an entire roll of film of just of the natural beauty..she says she felt like wayne, admiring the ocean spray and all...we stayed in a little apt for really cheap, had our own kitchen, and had two amazing austrailian girls for roommates..It was...

Jul 15, 2005 - Oops...

Haha...I promise we are all still alive and well!! I didnt realize it had been a week since I last posted. We are in Cinque Terre, Italy now spending all day every day on the beach...needless to say, there is not much time to play on the internet. But I promise I will try and post soon. love ya'll!

Jul 11, 2005 - Swimming in the Medittaranean

We went to this place called Cinque Terra, which literally means five lands. It was basically these five small villages right on the cliffs that close to the sea. We took a dip in the water. It was so nice. It wasn't too hot or too cold, and it was so clear. I think I may have to move here!!

Jul 9, 2005 - Cinque Terre, Italy

In the morning we drove up to Pisa. We wanted to avoid driving through the city, so we found a parking lot quite a ways from the center and luckily, a guy was just leaving so we were able to take his parking spot. When we asked him how to get to the center, he was nice enough to just drive us down there! The only thing really worth seeing in Pisa is the plaza in the center, but it was worth the stop since it was on our way. The plaza is a large grassy area where a large church sits, a couple museums, and of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa....

Jul 8, 2005 - Pisa & Cinque Terra - 5 Lands

8/7/05 Our first stop for the day was in Pisa. We were given almost two hours to look around and get some lunch. We took a few photos of the tower, which has now been reopened to the public and you can climb it but you need to pre-order tickets so we couldn't go up. Instead we went to a cute café around the corner and got ourselves a coffee and a pastry. Back on the bus and on our way to La Spezia. Our hotel was really close to the main station so we dropped our bags off and headed down to Cinque Terre by train. Cinque Terre is a set of 5...

Jun 26, 2005 - Cinque Terre, Italy

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just one of many words to describe this place. The Cinque Terre in Italy is just perfect. This is a small region in northern Italy on the coast between Pisa and Genova. It is made of 5 hilltop towns. When I arrived I checked in and then went directly to the water. Which just so everyone knows- was the first time I put on a bathing suit all summer. (I hadn't been near and water for a while, except Ireland where it wasn't quite warm enough) I managed to lie there for a good couple of hours just taking it...

Jun 14, 2005 - Cinque Terre, Pisa's Leaning Tower and Florence

Monday we picked up the car from Mr Renault and drove onto Italy to the Italian Riveria. Stayed in a camp ground at Deiva Marina. James was pleased it had a pool although with the rain we sufferred there its a wonder he used it. We awoke Tuesday morning to a good shower but the weather cleared a bit so we took the free camp ground bus to the train station to catch the train to the Cinque Terre - 5 cute villages perched on the coast linked by a pictueresque walk (according to the Brochures) We didn't get to do much of the walk due to the...