cinque terre . . .

i keep replaying the little pronunciation spot on youtube but i still fail miserably.  so just know that in my head i am still saying sink-tear.  gah!

of these five little gems of cities tucked into the mountainous coast of italy, we got to see three of them: manarola, corniglia and vernazza and the jumping off spot: porto venere.  i've been to porto venere before and it still amazes me.

we were supposed to take the ferry to the furthest town and hop it back to porto venere but the seas, as is often the case, were too rough and the ferries were not running, so while we didn't get to see them from the water, our trusty guide drove us over the river and through the woods so we could wander around.

these shots were taken along the drive.  that's vicki up front with paulie, and behind them are robin, david, me and bob.

 check out the view behind us.  slurp!!

 amazing stuff.

 nope, i do not remember which of the towns this is.  
yes, i am in love with italy

 wowsers!!

but for more specific goodness, this is vernazza, centered around a little cove.

 we stopped for lunch in one of the little outdoor restaurants.  and yes, the basil pesto was really this green, and fresh and delicious.  slurp!

 another restaurant.  the cove/bay is littered with them.

 here's the cove, protected by rocks from the sea.

 and the obligatory italian clock tower . . .

 the rock, holding back the ocean.

 or not.

and then in no particular order, we were in corniglia.  i want to live on those steps.

 stunning.

 please let me stay.

 ok, i could live in this hidey hole too.

 freakin' amazing . . .

 that's vicki, bob, paulie and robin.

and then manarola.  manarola is protected.  no cars allowed which makes for great walking.  the route down was steep and even steeper as we trudged back up but so worth the exercise.  thought the driver, who was not allowed to accompany us was going to faint when we told him upon return that between the six of us, there were three open heart surgeries and a value replacement.

 the entire hill side was grapes.  they were basketed up to the parking lot and transported.

 i fell in love with this mountain stream.

 and the odd decor.

 and the water wheel

 and of course a grape press.

and last but not least . . . well actually first, was porto venere and byron's cove.

 look at those rocks

 the view.  no wonder byron loved it there.

 ok, i got carried away with shots through doors and windows.

 mother nature in all of her green glory.

 paul and vicki walking down the steps from the church

 paul in one of the wonderful side streets.

 from the water's edge.

 a pasta seller who didn't tell us no photos until after i took a shot.  oops.

 i can't get over the rock formations.

 the church.

would i go back???? i'm packed.
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not rome . . .

while everyone else was headed into rome, robin, david, paul, vicki, bob and i took the road less traveled and headed to tuscania and the casale bonaparte olive orchards. but on the way we passed this.

please excuse the shot out of the moving bus window and the rain but this was my one and only glimpse of a 2AD aqueduct.  i am in awe.

and so we continued in the rain to tuscania not to be confused with tuscany. this is the entrance to the walled city.

and once inside we found more goodness.

 and more antiquity

 and some familiar friends

 and this huge sundial.

we also found a neat little shop where i scoffed up a bottle of wine and some of the most amazing olives i have ever eaten.

back on the bus, we headed to the orchards of casale bonaparte and yes, it was a cousin of that bonaparte.

the orchids produce award winning and olive oil, some of which i brought home and some of the best olive paste which i tried to bring home but was confiscated in atlanta after making it though spain and the netherlands.  go figure.

this is the main house which also houses their store and their bed and breakfast.  there is a pool out back.

 their award winning olives.  when the trees are young, the trunks are split so that the tree grow shorter and wider for easier picking.

 this is the owner.  he didn't speak any english so our tour guide acted as the translator.

 robin asking a question.

this is where we tasted their goods.  bruschetta, breads, cheeses, honey, eggplant, olive pate, and onions all  made with his olive oils.  slurp.

 and this was the drive in and out from his house.  beautiful tree lined lane.

and, this was david's birthday.  another dinner celebration.ave
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