Finally, Florence and farewells.

FAREWELL TO THE CINQUE TERRE and Monterosso.

We slept in somewhat, so what with Don's sore back and the quick packing needed, we missed out on breakfast. Everyone helped us get the bags down to the little truck that carried luggage up to the car park.




Views from the car park.




Julie forgot to hand in her key and had to race back to the hotel.




We headed off to Pisa. The cathedral and associated buildings, including the famous clock tower, are faced with white and grey marble.







We only peeked in the church as it was Sunday, and there was a service on.










We visited the Bapistry and climbed up inside.








We also visited the museum about the whole religious site. This included old statuary, church silver and the like.




From here it was possible to get close to the bell tower.




When we reached Florence we all said our farewells and set off in different directions: Tanya and Judith into the Hotel Donatello; Brenda, John, Marilyn and Julie to catch a train to Rome; Elaine, Jo and Lisa on a train to Venice; Bruce to the airport to fly to Paris; us to our new hotel Fiorino; and our intrepid leaders Mario and Gianni home to Pesaro.




Don rested up for a while while it rained heavily. Then we walked around to see Florence at night, with streets glistening in the lamplight.

The Ponte Vecchio...




The Loggia in the Piazza di Signoria...





The shadow cast by David doppelgänger ...




A street performer ...




- Posted the next day

Second ferry

Part two of Saturday the 14th.

On our trip around the islands, the crew's commentary was in Italian and then German, which made for a bit of guess work on our part to decipher what we were seeing!




These were building left over from battlements during the second world war.




This a beach, like a few others, made entirely of rocks!










The cliffs of some of these islands were mined for white and grey marble.




Gianni refused an opportunity for an open mike session!




Back in Porto Venere we bought and ate local specialities - salted sardines and fish sticks with baby squid, shrimp and mussels.







We investigated the town and church up on the hill.







The church is dedicated to St Peter and is made with the local grey and white marble. This one of the doors showing the apostles and St Peter saving people and welcoming them into heaven.







Just below was the 'poets' grotto', where Byron rescued Shelly. was Lady Catherine Lamb sun baking on the rocks?

Then it was back on the ferry to Monterosso, where our tour ended with a celebratory meal of pizza -- including one with pesto and salami -- and a modest amount of wine. Little thank you presents for Mario and Gianni, and kind words all round.







And a walk down to the harbor to find out what was happening on Saturday night.






- Posted when courtesy of Hotel Fiorino

Two ferries divided in two

The last full day of our Cinque Terre tour, and once again too much water under the ferry to fit into a single post.

We set off on the first ferry which stopped at all of the five towns along the way. I jumped on quickly to save seats up top for all. Despite a sore back -- that's what you get for drinking grappa late into the night with engineers! -- Don played his part, taking up space ...







We went past many beautiful scenes. The villages perched up on crests of hills, down in little valleys and dotted around, surrounded by terraces of grapes and olives.







The train travels through many tunnels to go from village to village.




This is one part of road that connects the villages.




This is a cemetery on top of a hill.




And this is, well, sea.







Finally we reached Portovenere, where we disembarked and boarded another ferry for a trip around the adjacent islands.

More in the next installment.




- Posted in rainy Florence

The second two and a half terre

A continuation of 13 September, as promised

On the train again, and Corniglia ... And the climb up to the town for lunch.







And down the steps...




... For the train to Vernazza, Mario marginally disappointed with the cafe we visited for lunch.

This mural shows the destruction the village suffered after a landslide last year when four people lost their lives. Check out YouTube footage.




Of course, there was time for gelati and coffees.




After the landslide, this bay was largely filled with rocks, soil and all the belongings of the people and shops.




Then it was back on the train to Monterosso for a shower before our surprise dinner, something leaving us green with envy.







Drinks continued for some...

- Posted better late than never