Hello Everyone!!! Just come back yesterday afternoon, and after spending almost 5 weeks in Europe, it is good to be back home again with my darling, unselfish hubby that does not mind my passion for travel and to my loving pets.
My travelling companions this time was my youngest daughter and Trevor, my 9 years old grandson, it was for him his first trip to Europe and also the first major travel without his Mom.

This is going to be a short report, because being originally from Europe I go there quite often , and despite that I still marvel at the beauties surrounding me, I have the tendency to take them for granted.


June 19 we arrived at Fiumicino Airport around 12:30, we had a nice but long flight. Trevor spent his time in the plane playing with his games, thanks heaven for Game Boy!!
Rome Limoservice was awaiting for our plane,our chaffeur Raffaello, was very friendly . I can never get tired of Rome!!! It is a magnificent city, I feel alive when I walk the streets !!! And the churches are so beautiful!!! Even the smallest ones are little museums, with murals and paintings in the walls, the ornate ceilings and the beautiful ornates altars.
Without doubt, my favourite is Santa Maria delle Vittorie!!!! Santa Rita in Ecstacy, Bellini masterpiece, is there....Really a must see for anyone going to Rome.

We walked and walked all day long!!! It was very hot but luckly Rome has the best fresh, cool and tasting water... Trevor had a ball filling the water bottle from the numerous fountains!!!
His favourite's places were the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Every night, after dinner we spent our time at the Steps, watching the people and eating gelato.Also he had a portrait taken from an artist there,a present for his Mom.

We saw only one Gypsy , never saw any little urchins, and never had any trouble... The people were friendly and never felt more safe.


By the way ladies.....wear shorts, capris, tennis shoes, alter tops if you like, everyone was dressed this way because of the hot weather and frankly I was surprised,I could not believe it,
normally Rome is very conservative but not this time..

We stayed in Rome for only 4 days... June 23 we took our train for Cinque Terre.
It was my first visit there..What a sight!!!I cant describe the beauty of the place... It did not seems real, more like a fairy tale village,with small houses perched on the clift, the sunny sky and the blue sea.
We rented an apartment, for a week, in Manarola near the water, ... All the villages have a charm of their owns, but I believe that Manarola is the prettiest of all...I never climbed so many steps in my life, truly a perfect place if you are a goat.. Everything is up hill, I developed good legs muscles in my stay there, everyone, even the elder look strong and fit.

Every day was an adventure for us, taking the regional train to other villages, climbing the paths, walking the trails, swimming in the small rocky clear beaches and have picnic lunches on the rocks facing the sea...

While we were there we took some day trips to Pisa, to SML and the luxurous, chic Portofino.. what a sight!!!!
Trevor was excited to visit Pisa, only an hour from La Spezia by train... we bought some souvenirs and of course the Puppet Pinocchio for Trevor little sister..

The next day we took a train to SML and a bus to Portofino , both places were stunnings,Liguria is without doubt a beautiful region!!!!
Unfortunately our dream week passed by quite quickly, and with the promise to go back once again someday, we left our Heavenly villages and the next morning we took the train for Pescara!!!!

I remember after climbing the steps to Corniglia my wife exclaimed, "My arches are broken." But that view back to Manarola was well worth it. We are returning the first couple of days in October to hike some of the trails that had been flooded before we got there the last time. I can hardly wait.

Hi Kismetchimera. Glad you enjoyed your first visit to Cinque Terre. Is is very beautiful, isn't it?

Re: "Liguria is without doubt a beautiful region!!!!"

Paul Theroux, in his excellent book "The Pillars of Hercules", travels clockwise around the Mediterranean but skips that part of the coast since he goes from Nice to Corsica to Sardinia to the Italian mainland. However, he visits it on the way back and, as I recall, says that he found Liguria to be the most beautiful -- and, I believe, relatively undeveloped

Ooops, hit the reply button too fast.

Should be...

However, he visits it on the way back and, as I recall, says that he found Liguria to be the most beautiful -- and, I believe, relatively undeveloped -- stretch of the Mediterranean coast.

kismetchimera,
Thanks for the great report. I'll be in Manarola for a few days in September and after reading of your experience I'm even more excited. Any recommendations for restaurants? Where did book the apartment? Thanks

Like maitaitom, we still remember the climb up all those steps to the village of Corniglia. How thoughtful of someone to provide a bar/cafe looking out over the view at the top, where we could sit and enjoy a cold beer and panini and congratulate ourselves for being there on such a beautiful day! We wandered through the village, very quiet because it was siesta time. Passed a doorway where a signora was pressing grapes; unmistakeable fragrance.

Mmm, want to be there again, soon...

"how thoughtful of someone to provide a bar/cafe looking out over the view at the top..."

I don't think I had ever looked so forward to a beer as when I reached that café.

Sheepdog - We stayed in Manarola in June. Had two delicious meals on the covered patio of the Marina Picolo. We had a room with a large terrace, not overlooking the water because it is about 2/3rds of the way up thru town, but overlooking town and vineyards, gardens and townfolk. They have a lovely garden where
you can have breakfast or read, enjoy your wine, etc.
Hotel ca'd'andrean
www.cadandrean.i Enjoy! CJ

Thanks for your report. I could feel the thrill of Rome.

kismet,

Thanks so much for your trip report, and I'm glad to hear that you and your family had a great time in Rome and 5Terre!

Kismet, thanks for your wonderful but all-too-short report. When my daughter saw Santa Margherita for the first time, she thought she had stepped into an earthly paradise. I am reading a book now called "Extra Virgin" which is about a young English girl who goes to Liguria and falls in love with that part of Italy. It's a great story--maybe you'll like it too. Welcome back!

I forgot to mention in my earlier report that in this trip we had to take 6 major trains to various cities in Italy and France.
We really tried to pack conservatively, but unfortunately, we did not realized how much we packed. However, in CinqueTerre we decided to sent a box full of personal belongings back home...I can still picture my hubby head shaking in disbelief when the box arrived !!!

What a challenge, or I should say what a nightmare it was for us to carry all our stuff up and down the stairs of the various train's stations.
Luckily we travelled first class and most of the times we had the compartment to ourselves and plenty of space for our suitcases..
During our ordeal, once awhile we had some help, but most of the time it was a challenging, strenous hard task....Luckily , our little man Trevor play baseball and although he is very slim, he has powerful muscles for his age. We learned a valuable lesson and we will never make the same mistake again.

Our trip to Pescara was long but pleasant.
Pescara is a modern city facing the Adriatic sea with the Appennini Mountains in the back.
The city was heavily destroyed during ww2 because of its location and also because being a port was quite important.

Pescara is located in the Abruzzi region.
The region is quite beautiful with majestic mountains peaks, luscious green forests, waterfalls and of course, the beautiful Adriatic sea.
The food is Excellent, also is off the tourists path.
We went to the beach quite often, and Trevor had a great time there eating Prosciutto and melons all day long..
We also took some trips to Porto San Giorgio and Fermo, and old interesting Medieval city in the Marche Region.

July 4 we left Pescara for Piacenza for a couple of days.
The city is also very old, not very pretty, and it was the last outpost of the Roman Empire in Italy.
The Lupa( She Wolf) the symbol of the mighty Imperial Rome, was everywhere, as a reminder of a splendid lost past.

July 7, at 7 in the morning we embarked to a new adventure and took our train for Nice.

Thanks Dln, Liguria is indeed a beautiful region. I am going to order the book that you have mentioned, at the moment I am reading quot;Patrick, Son of Ireland. I never realized that Saint Patrick was Welsh born..

Interesting report.