Italy

Celebrating Vavra's Silver medal World Champs- with the IRL, NZL GBR and FRA supporters

World champs are over for another year and the LJ Kiwi residence is disbanded. Kay and I headed for Italy with Cairan and his parents we had a great night in Brescia eating at a traditional travottoria pizzeria which was yumm....

Montorosso

From there we headed on the train to La Spezia via Palma and out to the Cinque Terra only to find no accommodation availalle as the local tourist info informed us until November. Should we be homeless until then or proactive decided on the latter and heaed back to La Spezia where we found the last room for the night in a 3 star hotel thanks to a cancelleation- rain was on the way. Moved to another less expensive hotel for the next two nights also due to a cancellation Hotel Cassir which was great. First day we headed out on the train to Levanto and walked from Levanto to Montorosso and then onto Vernazza. Two great swims in beautifully warm water so salty required no effort to stay afloat. The walks were harder than expected we were really expecting a walk in the park but day one was certainly a challenge especially in the heat 34 degrees and exposed to the sun. Absolutely wonderful, glorious views and not too many people on Levanto to Montorosso I think they must have heard it was a little demanding typical NZL tramping. Vino, hot showers and food solves and takes away any sore muscles and we were rearing and ready for day two of the walk. Up again bright and early and off to the train station heading to Vernazza to finish off the walk Corniglia, Manarola and onto Riomaggiore. An easy days walking with crowds of tourists making their way along the paths. Did a bit of a detour into the back vineyards and up another hill face which just added a new dimension to the scenery and took us away from the scores of walkers. The scenery is spectacular, the villages still every authentic, food great, vino better, too many Americans and at times apart from the architecture we could be in NZL. very worthwhile ad now we know while Ian and Paula suggested to book as it is so popular even out of the traditional tourist season. Had all weathers and the local fisherman pulled up there boats so they knew a med storm was on the way and the crashing of the waves and the tempest sky added another mood from the first day.

Heading towards Vernazza

Leaving Vernazza

Cornigilia


Riomaggiore vino well deserved

Now in Civitavecchia about an hour out of Rome and heading tomorrow to Sardinia on the ferry- had another mission finding accommodation at a reasonable cost but finally managed it and had the best pizza and salad tonight for dinner. It is all about eating, friend and doing it !.