Would you skip Cinque Terre if you've already been to Corsica?
Dec 11th, 2011, 04:39 AM
#21
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There are different experiences out there. Our last trip was a good example, we went to the truffle festival in Alba (very few foreign tourists) then on to Vicenza. Both, incredible little small scale experiences and we were dreading Venice for the obvious reasons. Thought we just had to do it for a tick box of life. Even in the rain and with the RIDICULOUS tour parties creating human snakes round the tiny street,it was on of the greatest experiences of my life. Cliche, I know but still.
I think, it is always best for travellers to see, do and make up their own minds but for us to tell them where no self respecting taveller would want to go ie warn. Piombino is a good example. Could somebody give me one redeeming feature of Piombino other than it has a ferry terminal and so is easy to leave.
Zeppole if you are close, try to get over to Corsica it has a very different street culture to Italy and considering how close it that is a real surprise.
I think, it is always best for travellers to see, do and make up their own minds but for us to tell them where no self respecting taveller would want to go ie warn. Piombino is a good example. Could somebody give me one redeeming feature of Piombino other than it has a ferry terminal and so is easy to leave.
Zeppole if you are close, try to get over to Corsica it has a very different street culture to Italy and considering how close it that is a real surprise.
Dec 12th, 2011, 02:25 AM
#22
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Thankyou again for all your comments. Escrunchy I was trying to reduce my list but after reading your fantastic trip report on Puglia I think you've lengthened it. It sounds so amazing. I'm grateful to have some seasoned travellers such as Zeppole and DickieG and all the rest of these good fodorites joining in on these posts.
I was going to save this draft itinary for another forum but it is probably a good idea to list it here as it will help answer some of your questions and more so mine. The first part of the journey I will be travelling solo and on a tight budget. I found some convents to stay in so that eases the burden of cost quite a bit. I will meet my parents on the last stage of the journey, the budget will not be so tight when we meet up. So here it is:
FRANCE/ITALY DRAFT ITINARY (May 13th to June 13th)
STAGE ONE: PARIS (pass through Burgundy) to Nice(travelling solo).
Arrive Paris - 2 nights stay at a convent. I will visit Montmartre my main goal here. I will return to Paris later on to catch my flight and can see the rest of Paris then.
Dijon - I will travel by fast train. Stay for lunch only.I wanted to visit Grancey le Chateau birth place of Mother Marie Adele Garnier foundress of the Tyburn Nuns and the nuns who pray at the basilica on Montmartre, but, looking at the train and bus timetable am not sure if I can spare the time to do this. Instead I will catch a train to Paray le Monial.
Paray le Monial: one night at a convent. The next day I will catch a train to Lyon, stay for lunch and then a train to
Aix en Provence: Two nights budget hotel. Then catch an early bus to St Maximin la St Baume to spend the day visiting the tomb of St Mary Magdalene my main purpose for coming to this area. In the afternoon I will catch the bus (same bus line) to Nice.
Nice: Two nights. Then catch the ferry to Bastia (Corsica)
STAGE TWO: CORSICA, CINQUE TERRE?, SIENA?, UMBRIA (travelling solo)
Corsica: 4 TO 6 nights? Will stay the first few nights at a convent in Bastia to explore the north around Caps Course, Calvi. I wanted to do a 7 hour hike over 2 days but if I'm on my own will pass this up. Hiking and swimming at a non patrolled beach are two things I won't do on my own. Then I will take the train stopping at Corte and to Ajaccio. I hadn't thought of Bonifacio but will probably go there after reading the above posts. I will have to go back up to Bastia to catch the ferry to Livorno.
Livorno - 1 night.The next day catch the train to Siena or will I go to Cinque Terre first and then catch a train to Siena via Pisa.
Siena - 2 nights at a Farmstay includes a day trip to Florence. I will catch an early train to Spoleto and then bus to Norcia birthplace of St Benedict(the directions to Norcia were given by the Benedictine monks at Norcia). Do I have to go to Rome first to get to Spoleto?
Norcia - 2 nights, may do a short hike if possible. Then travel to Rome via Spoleto to meet up with my parents.
STAGE THREE: ROME, SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, LOURDES AND PARIS (Travelling with parents)
ROME - 1 night at a convent (the sisters there I know very well). My parents would have had a good sleep by this time. We've all been to Rome several times and none of us feel we need to do any more sight-seeing there. We'll catch the train to Foggia and then a bus to San Giovanni Rotondo.
San Giovanni Rotondo - (3 nights). Includes day trip to Monte Cassino (a must for us) and St Michaels cave.Then we take the train back up to Rome.
Rome - 1 night. Catch a flight to Tolouse. At Tolouse we will hire a shuttle taxi which will cost 129 euros to Lourdes. Catching the shuttle will cost less than staying the night. As my folks are infirmed I'd rather spend this money for their comfort.
Lourdes - 2 nights. Then we will catch the fast train to Paris.
Paris -2 to 3 nights, maybe a day trip to Chartres depending on my parent's energy levels. From Paris we will catch our flight together.
THAT'S IT for the moment. So what do you think? Personally, I feel as if it is a bit rushed which is why I think the list could be reduced. I know this may sound a bit drastic but I may even go directly to Umbria from Livorno in order to slow the pace down a bit.
I was going to save this draft itinary for another forum but it is probably a good idea to list it here as it will help answer some of your questions and more so mine. The first part of the journey I will be travelling solo and on a tight budget. I found some convents to stay in so that eases the burden of cost quite a bit. I will meet my parents on the last stage of the journey, the budget will not be so tight when we meet up. So here it is:
FRANCE/ITALY DRAFT ITINARY (May 13th to June 13th)
STAGE ONE: PARIS (pass through Burgundy) to Nice(travelling solo).
Arrive Paris - 2 nights stay at a convent. I will visit Montmartre my main goal here. I will return to Paris later on to catch my flight and can see the rest of Paris then.
Dijon - I will travel by fast train. Stay for lunch only.I wanted to visit Grancey le Chateau birth place of Mother Marie Adele Garnier foundress of the Tyburn Nuns and the nuns who pray at the basilica on Montmartre, but, looking at the train and bus timetable am not sure if I can spare the time to do this. Instead I will catch a train to Paray le Monial.
Paray le Monial: one night at a convent. The next day I will catch a train to Lyon, stay for lunch and then a train to
Aix en Provence: Two nights budget hotel. Then catch an early bus to St Maximin la St Baume to spend the day visiting the tomb of St Mary Magdalene my main purpose for coming to this area. In the afternoon I will catch the bus (same bus line) to Nice.
Nice: Two nights. Then catch the ferry to Bastia (Corsica)
STAGE TWO: CORSICA, CINQUE TERRE?, SIENA?, UMBRIA (travelling solo)
Corsica: 4 TO 6 nights? Will stay the first few nights at a convent in Bastia to explore the north around Caps Course, Calvi. I wanted to do a 7 hour hike over 2 days but if I'm on my own will pass this up. Hiking and swimming at a non patrolled beach are two things I won't do on my own. Then I will take the train stopping at Corte and to Ajaccio. I hadn't thought of Bonifacio but will probably go there after reading the above posts. I will have to go back up to Bastia to catch the ferry to Livorno.
Livorno - 1 night.The next day catch the train to Siena or will I go to Cinque Terre first and then catch a train to Siena via Pisa.
Siena - 2 nights at a Farmstay includes a day trip to Florence. I will catch an early train to Spoleto and then bus to Norcia birthplace of St Benedict(the directions to Norcia were given by the Benedictine monks at Norcia). Do I have to go to Rome first to get to Spoleto?
Norcia - 2 nights, may do a short hike if possible. Then travel to Rome via Spoleto to meet up with my parents.
STAGE THREE: ROME, SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, LOURDES AND PARIS (Travelling with parents)
ROME - 1 night at a convent (the sisters there I know very well). My parents would have had a good sleep by this time. We've all been to Rome several times and none of us feel we need to do any more sight-seeing there. We'll catch the train to Foggia and then a bus to San Giovanni Rotondo.
San Giovanni Rotondo - (3 nights). Includes day trip to Monte Cassino (a must for us) and St Michaels cave.Then we take the train back up to Rome.
Rome - 1 night. Catch a flight to Tolouse. At Tolouse we will hire a shuttle taxi which will cost 129 euros to Lourdes. Catching the shuttle will cost less than staying the night. As my folks are infirmed I'd rather spend this money for their comfort.
Lourdes - 2 nights. Then we will catch the fast train to Paris.
Paris -2 to 3 nights, maybe a day trip to Chartres depending on my parent's energy levels. From Paris we will catch our flight together.
THAT'S IT for the moment. So what do you think? Personally, I feel as if it is a bit rushed which is why I think the list could be reduced. I know this may sound a bit drastic but I may even go directly to Umbria from Livorno in order to slow the pace down a bit.
Dec 12th, 2011, 05:28 AM
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You have the core of a wonderful trip but it needs shaving down.
Where have you visited before and will all your travel be by public transport or taxi?
Why do Paris twice, could you re-route the whole trip to avoid the double back?
In essence, I love the routes and areas you are visiting but the current logistics proposed are quite a way out (IMHO).
Where have you visited before and will all your travel be by public transport or taxi?
Why do Paris twice, could you re-route the whole trip to avoid the double back?
In essence, I love the routes and areas you are visiting but the current logistics proposed are quite a way out (IMHO).
Dec 12th, 2011, 11:53 AM
#24
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Thanks DickieG,
Yes, I'm understanding what you are getting at. Logistics isn't my strong point. Here is the problem, my parents and I have to be in Singapore smack bang on the 13th of June as we have to be there for my Grandmother's 95th birthday and the accomodation is already booked. Dad's trip has to coincide with that arrangement. Dad, in spite of his cancer and in spite of being over 70, still insists on working, so he can't take a lot of time off.
In short, my parents can only be in Europe between 1st to 13th of June. They want to go to San Giovanni Rotondo (in Italy) and Lourdes (in France). I'm finding it difficult to work out how to travel to all the places that I want to without having to double back a bit. If anyone can work out better logistics I would be indeed most grateful.
Yes, I'm understanding what you are getting at. Logistics isn't my strong point. Here is the problem, my parents and I have to be in Singapore smack bang on the 13th of June as we have to be there for my Grandmother's 95th birthday and the accomodation is already booked. Dad's trip has to coincide with that arrangement. Dad, in spite of his cancer and in spite of being over 70, still insists on working, so he can't take a lot of time off.
In short, my parents can only be in Europe between 1st to 13th of June. They want to go to San Giovanni Rotondo (in Italy) and Lourdes (in France). I'm finding it difficult to work out how to travel to all the places that I want to without having to double back a bit. If anyone can work out better logistics I would be indeed most grateful.
Dec 12th, 2011, 11:57 AM
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I forgot to say, yes we will mostly be going by public transport. I'm not a confident driver and Dad doesn't feel up to driving in a foreign country particularly when its driving on the right side of the road.
Dec 12th, 2011, 04:48 PM
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.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ly-updates.cfm
Above link is recent post which provides a couple sites w/ CT Updates, particularly re: towns of Vernazza & Monterosso.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ly-updates.cfm
Above link is recent post which provides a couple sites w/ CT Updates, particularly re: towns of Vernazza & Monterosso.
