Sorry about the sideways pictures - but you get the general idea!
Hello everyone! We have been having the most splendid time in the Cinque Terre. It is basically the unknown Italian Riviera, the place all Italians know about but everyone else passes over for the more fashionable Nice and Cannes. If you want more information for yourself, whether interested or just plain bored, you can go to http://www.cinqueterre.it/ We are staying in Biassa, a small town of 100 nestled in the hills just above the Cinque Terre. It is a wonderful hostel and has breathtaking views. Pictures are pending when we find a USB port.
It was referred to in the Medieval times as °the five lands°. The names of the villages in Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. This area is basically the economical hub for wine, basil and lemons. Each of the five villages is located along the waterfront, nestled in the hills high or low on the cliffs. There is a waterfront path you can hike along, connecting all the villages together. The path is quite winding and very steep in many places. You climb up 300 steps or so, then wind town through terraced cliffs of vineyards, and then go up another 300 steps, then down about 600 of them. But, the excercise is worth it and the views are breathtaking.
We hiked this path for three days straight (in 30 to 34 degree weather) and really used our muscles. We met a really nice lady named Tess. She hiked through the Cinque Terre with us for two days (another teacher, British, currently teaching in China, we all had a lot to talk about) The nicest beach is in Monterosso. It has a lot of white sand, and you can rent out beach chairs with umbrellas. We waded in and out of the water for a few hours. Yes, me too. The water was a gorgeous shade of blue and it was warm. Not only did I manage to have people gape in disbelief at my shade of white, I also managed to meet every other tourist on the beach. A few Americans, a couple Canadians.... it is easy to pick out the people who are not locals. The locals at the beach look like bronzed gods and godesses. And their kids too. And EVERYONE is in a bikini. And EVERYONE looks good, for better or for worse!! Stewart and I have been wondering what these Italians are eating that make them look so darned fantastic and healthy, and happy too. The sense of family here is also really nice to see. We have even seen a few newborns here.
A few interesting points
1. Italian toilets are not guaranteed to have locks on the doors to the toilets. You must navigate through the delicate task of squatting into the floor pan or above a porcelain bowl that does not have a seat, and warding off any would be enterers through scattered and poorly pronounced Italian.
2. Train times are negotiable and non binding in nature. You get there early because the train could leave early, or late.
3. The heat here makes you want to drink gallons of water, which then neccesitates an interesting experience in the bathroom with non locking doors
4. Sometimes people do not bother to even shut the door (usually men) because at least you know they are there and you cannot barge in on them.
5. People really appreciate it when you try to speak to them in Italian and they will correct you and help you when you are trying to figure things out.
6. Do not, under any circumstances, ask people for help when they are running down the platform to their train because they will not help you and will likely give you a rude gesture. Sometimes desperation as a lost tourist misses out on the common sense factor when lost.
7. Buses weave and wind up hills along very narrow streets. Essentially, what we would consider a one laner. They honk as they approach a bend to let other cars know they are there.
Well, we love it here and wish we could have everyone here, but seeing as that is not possible we will try to bring it to you.
Love Amanda and Stewart
It was referred to in the Medieval times as °the five lands°. The names of the villages in Cinque Terre are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. This area is basically the economical hub for wine, basil and lemons. Each of the five villages is located along the waterfront, nestled in the hills high or low on the cliffs. There is a waterfront path you can hike along, connecting all the villages together. The path is quite winding and very steep in many places. You climb up 300 steps or so, then wind town through terraced cliffs of vineyards, and then go up another 300 steps, then down about 600 of them. But, the excercise is worth it and the views are breathtaking.
We hiked this path for three days straight (in 30 to 34 degree weather) and really used our muscles. We met a really nice lady named Tess. She hiked through the Cinque Terre with us for two days (another teacher, British, currently teaching in China, we all had a lot to talk about) The nicest beach is in Monterosso. It has a lot of white sand, and you can rent out beach chairs with umbrellas. We waded in and out of the water for a few hours. Yes, me too. The water was a gorgeous shade of blue and it was warm. Not only did I manage to have people gape in disbelief at my shade of white, I also managed to meet every other tourist on the beach. A few Americans, a couple Canadians.... it is easy to pick out the people who are not locals. The locals at the beach look like bronzed gods and godesses. And their kids too. And EVERYONE is in a bikini. And EVERYONE looks good, for better or for worse!! Stewart and I have been wondering what these Italians are eating that make them look so darned fantastic and healthy, and happy too. The sense of family here is also really nice to see. We have even seen a few newborns here.
A few interesting points
1. Italian toilets are not guaranteed to have locks on the doors to the toilets. You must navigate through the delicate task of squatting into the floor pan or above a porcelain bowl that does not have a seat, and warding off any would be enterers through scattered and poorly pronounced Italian.
2. Train times are negotiable and non binding in nature. You get there early because the train could leave early, or late.
3. The heat here makes you want to drink gallons of water, which then neccesitates an interesting experience in the bathroom with non locking doors
4. Sometimes people do not bother to even shut the door (usually men) because at least you know they are there and you cannot barge in on them.
5. People really appreciate it when you try to speak to them in Italian and they will correct you and help you when you are trying to figure things out.
6. Do not, under any circumstances, ask people for help when they are running down the platform to their train because they will not help you and will likely give you a rude gesture. Sometimes desperation as a lost tourist misses out on the common sense factor when lost.
7. Buses weave and wind up hills along very narrow streets. Essentially, what we would consider a one laner. They honk as they approach a bend to let other cars know they are there.
Well, we love it here and wish we could have everyone here, but seeing as that is not possible we will try to bring it to you.
Love Amanda and Stewart
1 comment:
Amanda Amanda Amanda....how I do look forward to reading your blog almost daily!!!!! If for some reason teaching does not work out you could easily become a writer. Maybe even a travel writer. You and Stu could travel the world for free!!!! Just think about that. Somehow I think you have some of the Swan humor in you. In certain ways you do remind me of Gramps....who you would not really remember.
I am not kidding when I say you have real writing talent!!!!
(not to say Jen and Glenn if you are reading this I think yours is boring).
I look forward to the next page....hey Stu are you allowed to write anything yet?
Pam
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