Kate's Fantastic Adventure - Pisa, Florence and the Cinque Terre

After our stay in Sorrento, we drove from there to Partigliano.  That makes it sound so simple but it was really a long, seven hour drive with limited stops.  We did manage a quick run by the Prada outlet near Florence but, as I like telling people, 50% off $500 is still $250.  Personally, I could not find anything that went with my predominantly Eddie Bauer wardrobe or my Whidbey Island lifestyle. 

The next day we took things easy.  Cherie, Emily and I took a large load of laundry to a laundromat, we stocked up on groceries and generally just settled into our spaces in Partigliano.  Cherie and Emily stayed at a nearby rental house while Cindy, Kate and I were at our house.  I had a problem getting the heating system going, in spite of technical assistance directly from Dom in the U.S., so we had no hot water or heat until he arrived.  However, we managed and it helped that there was plenty of heat and hot water at Cherie and Emily's place. 

Late in the afternoon on April 2 we all crawled into the rental car (a Dodge Caravan that seemed quite immense in Italy!) and drove to Pisa. Dom was due to arrive around 7 pm so we visited the Leaning Tower and environs on the way to the airport.

Above you can see Cindy getting a classic shot of Kate "holding up" the tower.  It was really windy while we were there and I loved this shot of the clouds behind the Baptistry. 

After picking up Dom (and all the gear I had him bring!) we all stopped for dinner on the way back to the house.  The next morning (after we all left for Florence) Dom managed to get the heat and hot water running smoothly.  So when we came home from the day o'shopping the house was nice and toasty.

Although we visited the Uffizi, the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence was all about shopping.  As you can see from the many bags and smiling faces, it was quite successful.  This is the only picture I took all day because I just had to record the amount of "stuff" we took home.  The Italian economy no doubt noticed an uptick in early April and it was a good thing we had the Dodge Caravan.

The next day was Easter Sunday.  It was another "lazy" day.  We all went to mass at our village church and then off for a special lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. 

The lunch at Ristorante La Fonte included antipasto della terra (six or seven different items, antipasto del mare (another six or seven different items), two pasta courses (fish ravioli and an asparagus risotto), a plate of salmon and vegetable custard, roast lamb and pork with roast potatoes, and a delicious cake, custard and fresh strawberry dessert.  Mind you, by the time dessert arrived we had been at the restaurant for four hours and we could hardly eat it.  It was all delicious, an incredible experience but not necessarily something we want to repeat soon.

On Easter Monday we went to the Cinque Terre.  I tried my best to talk everyone out of going (whining about crowds, rains and it being over rated) but Cherie wore me down.  As you can see the weather was great (although windy).

We started out in Vernazza which I think is the best of the five villages. 

Kate was having a great time and Cindy was keeping everyone on Facebook up to speed on our trip.

 
Even Dom and I were all smiles.  It is hard to tell from this picture but the sea was rough enough that the boat was not running from Vernazza to the rest of the Cinque Terre.

After wandering around the village and harbor, we climbed to the top of this tower.  I have always wanted to do this and it was well worth the effort.

The views were spectacular from the top of the tower.

Cherie had fun inserting herself unexpectedly into my photos.  Now the entire blogosphere gets to see her lovely expression.  (This is payback for posting Mole and Squirrel on FB!)

After Vernazza we took the train to Riomaggiore, the southern most town.  We found a spot that sold pizza and panini and had a picnic lunch sitting on benches in a piazza in the middle of town.  Afterwards we paid to walk along the Via dell'Amore--The Path of Love.  This is a broad walkway from Riomaggior north to the next town of Manarola.  The walk is about a kilometer and, after the two or three flights of stairs is a fairly level walk.  There are dozens of photo opportunities along the way and we enjoyed our stroll.

Somewhere along the way we found gelato (of course!) and after a stroll around this village we took the train back to our car.  All in all it was a great day--beautiful weather and Cherie, Emily, Cindy and Kate all felt it was well worth the effort.  However, it was CROWDED.  Easter Monday is a holiday in Italy and the rest or Europe and we had a lot of company.

Kate's Fantastic Italian Adventure is nearly over.  One more day to cover--Venice--coming soon.

Kate's Fantastic Italian Adventure!

The 2010 Girls' Trip to Italy was a wopping success!  This was my niece Kate's Italian adventure and we were joined by her mom Cindy and my friend Cherie and her daughter Emily.  The above picture was taken our first night in Rome.  Over the next few weeks I will post the details of our trip but for now here is a quick overview.

We started in with two full days in Rome.  The first day we focused on Ancient Rome.  Above you can see us at the Colosseum.

From Rome we took the train south to Sorrento where we had three full days.  The first was spent taking the bus to Amalfi where we walked to the nearby town of Atrani for lunch.  The bus ride itself was quite the adventure (urp!).

Then we took the boat to Capri and explored the little island.

We also spent a day at Pompeii.  The weather in Rome and Sorrento was spectacular.  The Italians might have thought it was still chilly but 65-70 degree weather was a delight for a bevy of Seattle area women.

From Sorrento I drove the gang to Partigliano.  We managed a flying stop at the Prada Outlet near Florence but it was a bit of a disappointment.  A lot like Nordstrom but pricier. 

Our first day in P. involved laundry, groceries, a stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and picking up Dom at the airport (yeah!).  He put up with the gaggle of girls superbly.

Actually, Dom got left at home his first day here.  The rest of us went to Florence for a visit to the Uffizi and SHOPPING!  Italy's economy got quite a boost as can be seen from the shopping bags.

We also spent a day at the Cinqueterre in spite of MY whining. It turned out the best idea as the weather in P. was damp but it was sunny and warm on the coast.

Everyone was flying out of Bologna so we packed up and spent the day in Venice before overnighting in Bologna.  The next day Dom and I dropped the gang off at the airport and headed back to Partigliano. 

It was a REALLY fun two weeks but we did do a LOT.  So, I am sure all my dear friends now need a vacation from their vacation.  Meanwhile, Dom and I are getting back in our Italian groove.  More tomorrow.

A Day at the Cinqueterre

Too busy with our guests, Geri and Karen, to write much but here are photos from yesterday's excursion to the Cinqueterre.


We took the train from La Spezia to Vernazza and acted like tourists. Note the shopping bags.


Karen, Dom and Geri


View of Vernazza from the breakwater/pier.


The church and laundry hanging in Vernazza.


Hillsides above Vernazza are covered in terraced vineyards. The DOC Cinqueterre vino bianco is quite tasty.


Colorful fish boats in tiny Vernazza port.

Lovely Madonna icon in Vernazza's Santa Margherita church.

Looking back at Montarosso, the most northerly and largest of the Cinqueterre towns.

Another view of the craggy terrain.

Town of Riomaggiore from boat we took from Vernazza. The former is the most southerly of the towns.

We are off to see the Giro d'Italia this afternoon!