Our little cabin on the side of the cliff
Cinque Terra views
This is where you end up in a Cinque Terra town. Always on the highest point of the cliffs
View from the top of the Leaning Tower
one of the Pisa bells... and Tim
This guy was weeding.....no wonder we weren't allowed on the lawn
Almost shaped like seats
Who said it was leaning?
Ponte Vecchio
all made of inlaid stone
this is the Duomo Di Sant Maria Del Fiore. We went right to the top!
view of Florence from the dome. Our hotel is just centre left
inside the dome
puss cats at Cinque Terra
I didn't go back to the last post, have started anew.
Woah, I'd say we've trodden over 2000 steps in the last 36 hours! First, at Cinque Terra, where everything is on cliffs, we traversed the beautiful towns for a detailed look at their nooks and crannies. Then, yesterday we hit Pisa and climbed the Leaning Tower, another couple of hundred steps or so. This isn't as easy as it sounds. Because of the lean, you feel as if you are on an amusement ride, with your balance mechanisms challenged. You spiral your way up (stepping on incredibly worn steps, see pic) and the lean side is easy but the top side is much harder. A very wierd feeling. The view from the very top though is worth it.
Today, we are in Firenze (Florence) and we encountered 466 spiralling steps in the Duomo of the Santa Maria Del Fiore. You are also doing this with hundreds of other people and sometimes you need to get up close to pass on the stairs. Again it was worth it though, for the view across Firenze. The pics won't give the impression but its a start.
My gluteous will really be maximus by the time we're finished!
Oh, I'm sorry, but Imelda struck today........... yes, I relented and bought ** pairs of shoes. How could I resist! Beautiful Italian shoes made right here in Florence. AND i paid less than I would for Chinese made ones at home. Not that i'm making excuses, I don't need to ...........
The shoe shop is 'only twenty steps' from the Ponte Vecchio (there's only jewellery shops there!!) and I was served by the designer himself, Guido Longinotti. A charming man and good businessman.
Tomorrow the Panda will take us to Roma for four days, go Panda!!
Oh those Italian shoes, and so cheap! Tempietto Di Bramante is worth the view, and it is the most exquiste building, situated at the top of the hill (sorry more walking!) in Trastevere. Great Pizza and Pasta, but the bread just isn't as good as the French. Giolitt, the most famous gelato in Roma, where Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn stopped for a taste in Roman Holiday, is worth the visit. Just head up the hill from the Pantheon and turn right. If you are in Roma on Sunday, they close the street into town from the Colosseum, beautiful walk. If you are planning the Vatican, book online, miss the line up, at no extra cost! those boots were made for walking...
ReplyDeleteThe photo's of Florence look beautiful, we all wished (the kids really wanted to see the not so leaning tower) we had more time in Italy, it would have been good to visit. You'll have to tell us which one you prefer, Florence or Roma?!
ReplyDeleteWell Imelda what shall you leave behind to fit all those shoes in?????? You're really getting the hang of this travel writing, better and better, love your stuff and the puss cats of course. Alex and I saw CATS last night, wish I had their energy. Love the architecture, absolutely beauuuuuuutiful!!! Love Cinque Terre, looks fascinating, hope you can fit the glutes and the quads on the plane, he he he.
ReplyDeleteDon't you worry. I've allowed for the acquisition of another bag to take home. No extra baggage costs. Glad you like the writing, I have to make myself do it, i'm lazy. Was CATS good? Big production. I think I need to acquire a new puss cat too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for those tips Rach. We are in Roma now, found a great apartment on Cross pollinate. Don't think you can compare Florence and Roma, different. both great! I prefer Italy to France. Am dying to eat some vegetables! Australia is obviously the salad capitol of the world.
ReplyDeletethis is my third comment but I just keep getting ignored. What in the name of technology is going on?
ReplyDelete\hey Rickly. this is the first one ive seen of yours_____ we are in Zurich tonight.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to Saltzburg? I spent a night in the Railway Station there. Left Greece in rather a hurry and forgot to get a visa for Germany. They pulled me off the train and I left my Passport hanging on the window rail. Dumkopf, he said, the arrogant prick. Nice sausages and cakes tho.
ReplyDelete