Lazy starts are beginning to punctuate this trip, although today there was good reason as Jo was still moving slowly. The airbnb provided coffee and a percolator along with a selection of herbal teas so we were off to a good start!
Rick Steves is an American travel writer who has informative travel guides and an app with audio tours for many European destinations which we have found to be a good mix with the free walking tours. Today we set off around the old town using his commentary to give us a bit of background.
We found a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, numerous churches and an old convent before ending up on top of the hill at the cemetery. Back in the 1800s cemeteries were declared a health risk and began to be located out of town. In the Cinque Terre there are not that many options so the cemeteries were located up the hill away from the main town. Giving the best to those who have left us - a fantastic view in peaceful surrounds. The other result of this is that people are not buried but have their plot above ground in quiet lanes of marble niches, some five high. It was quite moving seeing the history here, often there are pictures on the plaque commemorating the person.
On our way back down the hill, a great result of walking the other way to which we had come up, we stumbled across a vineyard, doing tastings, with no one else inside! Winning. Although the Cinque Terre may not make the best wine in Italy, it is pretty darn drinkable, and even just to see and learn about how the terraces were manmade is definitely worth the visit. They even serve you a plate of nibbles to accompany your drinks.
Sufficiently boozy after two generous tastes of wine and a limoncello (rather early in the day for this!) we made our way back to our flat for lunch. Next came a solid nap for Jo and a trip to the beach for Crom.
Out for dinner where we went for the typical Italian fare of pasta, with wine, followed by gelato. Thought that we were having dinner with Rick Steves tonight as well, although it turned out to be just another punter. Italy is great.
August 16, 2018
|
Monterosso, Italy
Lazy starts are beginning to punctuate this trip, although today there was good reason as Jo was still moving slowly. The airbnb provided coffee and a percolator along with a selection of herbal teas so we were off to a good start!
Rick Steves is an American travel writer who has informative travel guides and an app with audio tours for many European destinations which we have found to be a good mix with the free walking tours. Today we set off around the old town using his commentary to give us a bit of background.
We found a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, numerous churches and an old convent before ending up on top of the hill at the cemetery. Back in the 1800s cemeteries were declared a health risk and began to be located out of town. In the Cinque Terre there are not that many options so the cemeteries were located up the hill away from the main town. Giving the best to those who have left us - a fantastic view in peaceful surrounds. The other result of this is that people are not buried but have their plot above ground in quiet lanes of marble niches, some five high. It was quite moving seeing the history here, often there are pictures on the plaque commemorating the person.
On our way back down the hill, a great result of walking the other way to which we had come up, we stumbled across a vineyard, doing tastings, with no one else inside! Winning. Although the Cinque Terre may not make the best wine in Italy, it is pretty darn drinkable, and even just to see and learn about how the terraces were manmade is definitely worth the visit. They even serve you a plate of nibbles to accompany your drinks.
Sufficiently boozy after two generous tastes of wine and a limoncello (rather early in the day for this!) we made our way back to our flat for lunch. Next came a solid nap for Jo and a trip to the beach for Crom.
Out for dinner where we went for the typical Italian fare of pasta, with wine, followed by gelato. Thought that we were having dinner with Rick Steves tonight as well, although it turned out to be just another punter. Italy is great.
1.
On our way!
2.
The second longest travel day... so far!
3.
What we came to Norway for
4.
Travelling through postcard worthy scenery
5.
The city of seven mountains
6.
Our first overnight train and Ryanair sucks
7.
Tiger Woods and Ellie Lock
8.
Scotland in the school holidays
9.
A sleep in and a distillery
10.
Island hopping in Scotland
11.
A Ben is a mountain
12.
Highland weekend
13.
Hopefully the earliest start of the trip
14.
Catalonian culture and Spanish summers
15.
Travel lessons
16.
The Moorish Kingdom in Europe
17.
Exploring sunny Granada
18.
Holy shit it's hot
19.
Seville round 2
20.
Back to Madrid
21.
Spanish Culture and 101 Montaditos
22.
Travel days and Swiss facts
23.
Toddlers and Mountains
24.
Cow fighting and Swiss horn orchestra
25.
À bientôt Suisse et ciao Italia!
26.
Back to the seaside!
27.
Wine tasting and the beach
28.
Scenic walk and the beach
29.
Falling Towers and the Renaissance
30.
Michael and David
31.
Florence round two
32.
Avoiding flying Italians
33.
Tour de Umbria
34.
Don't go chasing waterfalls between 1 and 3pm
35.
Saints and signal failure
36.
Floating city and random catch ups
37.
Sunsets, pasta and tiramisu
38.
Ciao Italia, zdraveĭ Bŭlgariya
39.
More Romans and the Ottomans
40.
Balkan bites
41.
Victory Day!
42.
The oldest city….we have visited
43.
Pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove
44.
Living in caves
45.
Sun comes up, sun goes down
46.
Hiro tour let’s go!
47.
It’s a party in the sky with Turkish Airlines!
48.
Corn, fish sandwiches, and the art of bargaining
49.
The longest travel day by far
50.
Chilling and a cultural education
51.
Famous graves and forest walks
52.
Living like a local
53.
Escaping the city
54.
New York, New York!
55.
Bagels and memorials
56.
Old faces and sexy shoes
57.
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS
58.
Green space in a concrete jungle
59.
“Bonus” night in NYC
60.
Toronto!
61.
We can play dodgeball!
62.
The bright lights of the big waterfall
63.
Roughriders and Whiskey
64.
The Sunshine State
65.
Going to the zoo zoo zoo
66.
California Sunsets
67.
I feel the need, the need for speed!... and shopping!
68.
Beverley Hillbillies
69.
A day at the beach
70.
Escape to suburbia
71.
Back to the hustle
72.
Last day on tour
73.
The most beautiful country in the world
Create your own travel blog in one step
Share with friends and family to follow your journey
Easy set up, no technical knowledge needed and unlimited storage!