Tag Archives: female

November 9, 2012 · 8:56 am

Day 11 still – Pisa

Pisa Umbrella

9th June 2012

Seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa wasn’t a factor when deciding which tour to do but it’s included so today I visited another famous place. We had to park outside the city walls again and the bus park was a real shock, it’s the first time we have encountered street vendors in any number. There were a few dozen just in the bus park trying to sell everything from knockoff bags to sunglasses to umbrellas to jewellery, you name it they had it. Mostly they were quite okay if you just said “no” firmly enough but there were a couple more persistent ones who the tour guide ended up speaking to rather sternly. I didn’t ask what nationality they were but heard someone say they would most likely be from Africa. It’s funny the things that make you so aware of being away from home, this was one for me.

First view of Leaning Tower of Pisa

We caught a little train thing closer to the walls and walked about 50 metres down a little side street following our guide. He stopped, we all stopped behind him like we do, he then took another couple of steps and turned right – and there was the Leaning Tower of Pisa!! What a wonderful way to see it for the first time, totally unexpected and unannounced, it was terrific. I was pretty awestruck then to actually be there and really did appreciate the theatrical way we were introduced.

Markets in Pisa, Italy

I must say I didn’t have the patience to wait in line to climb the tower but instead wandered off to have lunch and a look at the town. Had a lovely melon granita and stumbled on some markets where I found a few treasures to top up my luggage (I had just posted 6kg home so what the heck). I bought a couple of old fashion magazines, one from 1958 and the other from 1960 as well as an old map of Rome that I’d love to have displayed on a wall one day. Think I might be a bit “sightseed” out at the moment because people watching and taking street life photos is about all I’ve done today. Then again, it doesn’t matter what I do so long as I am enjoying it I guess.

Day 11 – Lucca

9th June 2012

Church in Lucca Italy

I had asked about sending parcels home from Lucca today and yep that was all okay so I bought a couple of bags down thinking I would just pack them at the post office like I would at home. Oops, that’s not how it’s done here. Our tour guide had to get one of the hotel staff to find a carton and tape for me and we packed it there in the foyer. I felt so silly, but the staff were really lovely and the guide said he’d show me where the post office was in Lucca but I just hate putting people out or asking for something out of the ordinary. The post office was a 20 minute walk from the bus and I felt really bad again because he then waited with me and helped with the posting – so, the moral of the story is no more posting parcels home until I’m on my own in Rome .

Daily life, Lucca Italy

It was actually good in a way to have gone to the post office as I was in areas I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise and I had a map to find my way back to the Piazza San Michele. I had a lovely coffee and cake with Val and we sat and people watched for quite a while. She has been to most of the places on our tour before and I love hearing how things have changed, she remembers really interesting details that bring her stories to life.

It was Jenny and Dorian’s turn to be late this morning. How we all react to being late seems to reflect our personality and I’m enjoying seeing the reactions. They had apparently been walking along the wall around the city and somehow thought they had turned around to come back but were still going in the same direction. It was so funny listening to Jenny tell the story with her arms going everywhere and the dialogue between them as to which direction they should have been going. Good entertainment all round and as long as it’s not me who is late I don’t mind.

Day 10 – Cinque Terre, Italy

8th June 2012

Arriving at Porto Venere Italy

It’s just one day after another of unbelievably beautiful places to see. Cinque Terre today – how could I not be excited! Had a short drive to La Spezia to catch the boat to our first stop of Porto Venere. Arriving from the sea was just like you see on postcards, gorgeous coloured houses clustered around the bay. It was a lovely little village and not very busy when we were there, maybe later in the day it would be worse. Dale & I walked to the Gothic Church of St Peter and the Doria Castle for a hit of history, but I can’t go past the cute little alleys for photographic ops. At the moment they’re my happy place.

I saw the funniest thing at Porto Venere, a couple of women were sitting outside their shop on the steps and there was another older woman leaning out of a window above them. She was watching them with the most inscrutable look on her face. I was trying to work out if she was just listening to them or if she was angry but by the time I thought about trying to sneak a photo of them they all moved – darn!

Grey day at Monterosso, Cinque Terre

Next on the list was Monterosso by train as the weather had deteriorated and the boats weren’t running. It played havoc with the poor guides plans but you can’t help bad luck can you? Even though the village is recovering it was sad to see the evidence of last year’s terrible floods and landslides all around. One consolation I guess is that at least we are helping their economy by visiting and spending money there. I am sure Gloria, Frank and I found Monterosso’s smallest room for a toilet at the café where we had lunch. It was so, so tiny, about the size of a broom cupboard. We had a good laugh about it but it also made me realize how much we take for granted at home and how fortunate we are in good old Australia. Even though they had the tiniest closet for their loo their food and wine were scrumptious.

Manarola, Cinque Terre

Another train trip took us to Manarola, the second smallest village of the five that make up Cinque Terre. We didn’t have a lot of time here though I did find an interesting water wheel where I spent some time trying to be creative with the camera. I feel ungrateful to say it and I had an amazing day but would have preferred to only visit two villages today. For the first time, it felt like we were just trying to fit too much in and rushing from one place to another without really doing any of them justice.

By the time we got off the train back at Montecatini that afternoon we were well and truly ready for a nice refreshing shower and a couple of wines. Oh the joys of travelling!

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Filed under Italy, Mid-life travel, Travel

Tagged as cinque terre, female, mid-life traveller, older

November 5, 2012 · 8:10 pm

Day 9 – Montecatini

7th June 2012

Sunken garden in Montecatini

Our only fully free day today – needless to say for anyone who knows me, I had a late start to the day, although I was still early enough for breakfast!

I spent most of the day just looking around, did a bit of shopping and took oodles of photos. I found some great old derelict buildings and one place that was quite a way below the current street level making me think it could be rather ancient. I asked the tour guide when we went past on our way to the funicular station later if he knew anything about it but sadly he didn’t. Just another little teaser to add to my list for “next time”.

Montecatini Terme from Montecatini Alto

Had drinks in the garden before we headed up to Montecatini Alto for dinner. The funicular was very different from the one to Castelbrando, this one was really old-fashioned with cute wooden slat seats and lots of clickety claks. We had a little time before dinner for a look around, another village full of atmosphere. Dinner was again awesome. I am not a fan at all of pork and wouldn’t eat it by choice but I had the biggest meanest looking pork chop that was amazingly delicious. It was a really happy and relaxed night out and Roberto had the whole funicular in stitches laughing on the way back down.

Two tier carousel in Montecatini

We walked past the cutest double tier carousel on the way there and back. I snapped a quick shot from the other side of the street thinking I would go back another night for a better one but I didn’t get back so have included the dodgy one here because I’ve never seen a double decker merry go round before!