Siena, Italy

We are in Siena for two nights.  So far we love what we see.  There will be more exploring today once the rain/hail storm passes.

We are about two blocks from the main square.  It's Sunday morning and people are starting to arrive in the square.

The accordion players are coming down our street as I write.
I had to lean out the window to see who was coming.
I tossed a couple of coins down, he caught them both in his hat. 

I'll show you a few photos of the AirBnB we are staying at in Siena.  It's a very nice second floor apartment with every convenience nearby.  The apartment is close to 2,000 square feet.  There are two young ladies sharing the apartment but we have only said hello in passing.

The kitchen and dining room.
I love the arched brick ceiling.

Nice modern kitchen in a building that is centuries old.

Looking straight out our bedroom window is an old church that is now a museum.

We just got back from a walk that was interrupted by a rain squall.  We're back drying out and taking a break.  We stopped and had lunch.  We followed that with a gelato.

They make it hard to choose which gelato.

 
We continue to eat too well.  Dinner the other night was Ravioli for me and Gnocchi for Terri.  We have both become big fans of olive oil and vinegar as a dip for our bread.  As you can see Terri was able to find another nice red wine to go with her dinner.

Wishing well.

We hop on a train tomorrow morning to go to Rome for 5 days.  Following Rome will be 7 days on the west coast of Italy in Sorrento.

Waiting for the train yesterday morning. The sun was just coming over the mountain top.

Life is good.  I've got a story to tell but it will have to wait until another time.  Hint: Not everything that happens to us is good.

A watercolor I painted during last nights rain storm.
A Cinque Terra scene from last weeks travels.

Yesterday as we were walking I found a small store with watercolors and paper and a few brushes. I spent about 15 Euros and I was ready to do some painting.  If I become famous as an Italian painter I'll be surprised.  I'll settle for being a famous Mexican painter.

 

Holy Mollie We Had A Cannoli

We had a lazy Friday morning.  The sun was out.  We had the windows swung wide open.  We were in no hurry to begin our day.  It wasn't til after noon that we walked into Manarola to have lunch at the harbor.

We had scouted out where we were going to eat.  After 10 days of Italian food we were ready for a good hamburger and fries.  I also threw in a chocolate shake made from gelato.

Lunch on the harbor today.

As we were walking back uphill to a trailhead I saw a bakery shop.  I said to Terri, "Holy mollie, I've never had a cannoli."  I quickly remedied that situation and we found a bench to sit on and have our first cannoli's.  The chocolate filled pastries were wonderful.

The trail is on the left side of this photo.

I had promised Terri that it would be an easy day of walking, not hiking.  I wore my flip-flops to assure I would not forget my promise.  Today was a walk through the hillside vineyards.

The wine grapes are starting to grow.

It's hard to imagine how old these grape vines are.

Coming to a wine bottle in a few years.

The lemons in this tree will be made into one of the many local drinks they make here.  As we wandered the vineyards we noticed many vegetable gardens planted under olive and fruit trees.  They use all the available space to grow something.

Charity story:  For years when daughter Charity was younger we always met at a restaurant to discuss and solve all of lives problems.  As we would talk I would take a napkin from the dispenser and begin to write one of my famous lists.  By the end of the meal the napkin would be full of all my great advise and suggestions.  I'm sure I could solve all the worlds problems if I had a big enough napkin.  (No, I am not announcing my bid to become president. Yet)

Today I found the source for me to give Italian advice.... need any Charity?

Italian napkin dispenser... Italian advice...5 cents

The Med Cruise

Today we were recovering from our little hike yesterday so after lunch we hopped aboard a cruise boat to visit a few more villages along the Cinque Terra coastline.  It started as a beautiful day on the water.

As we were traveling North up the coast we could see a sqawl headed our way. We were quickly surrounded with thunder and lightening.... and a bunch of rain.

The shoreline disappeared in the rain and water was pouring off the top deck.

The rain had considerably slowed by the time we got to Monterosso the last of the five villages we wanted to visit.  We purchased two umbrellas and were set to visit this last village of the five.

By the time we were done the sun was back out for the ride home.

We passed Corniglia, the first village we stayed at when we arrived.  It is the only village without a harbor, so boats can't stop there.  Of the five villages it is our favorite.

Corniglia from the water looking up.

The thunder storms have returned this evening.  We are staying in and having bread, fruit and cheese for dinner.  Given it is Italian bread and cheese it's a good dinner.  The only hardship is we have no chocolate.  Think of us in our time of need.

After our hike yesterday we didn't have enough miles on the pedometer so we hiked up a trail to view Monarola from a Northern viewpoint.  We seem to like to punish ourselves, but the views make it worthwhile.  I don't know if we will ever make it back here so I want us to see it all.

Dusk from up high.  As Usual.

Life is good.

We have set out a plan for the month of July that includes going North to: Austria, Czech Republic and Berlin.  I'll publish the list of cities as we make our AirBnB reservations.  I have my first confirmation in Innsbruck, Austria.

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

I drank the magical (or maybe stupid) waters.... I'm ready for the hike from Hell.  This morning I awoke with  the brilliant idea to hike across the mountain that separates us from the next village to the South, Riomaggiore.  What was I thinking.  Obviously I had lost my mind.

We have hiked hundreds of trails in the states and we are used to a 5, 6 or 7 mile day of walking.  This turned out to be more than we bargained for.  I should have known that when the normal sea coast trail was closed that option #2 might not be a stroll through the vineyards.

Somewhere down there is our home in Manarola.

We picked a trail that started near our house.  Part way up I was beginning to understand my mistake.
The trail got smaller, steeper and rougher.  We kept on going.

The village below kept getting smaller.

Finally we reached the summit of our hike.  It had taken 3 times longer than we had planned.... and we still had to hike down the other side.  Gratefully the descent was a better trail than the climb up.

Our goal was in sight.

We made it to Riomaggiore.

The last half of the hike Terri had one goal in mind.  And that goal included a beer.

A happy hiker.

After walking the village we took a train home. Our feet were tired, our bodies ached, my fingers even hurt and we smelled bad.  It was a great hike.  I won't do it again tomorrow.  I'm not drinking any more "stupid" water.

A better way home.

Life is good.... once you cross the bridge to your front door.  Time for a nap!!

Home at last.

Manarola, Italy

We moved down the line of villages to Manarola on the Cinque Terra coast this morning.  The villages are connected by a train that runs a very frequent schedule so there is no need to plan.

We again have a nice AirBnB that is next to a church that was built in 1383.  We don't need an alarm  clock, the church bells will ring us awake.  There is a small stream that comes down from the hills and runs right under our front door.  Nice sounds to sleep by.

I'm standing on the stone bridge that crosses the stream to our front door.

We've just begun our walking.  Tomorrow we will hike a few of the trails that connect the towns here.  The elevation gain and the steps are a killer for me but the views make it worthwhile.

I am planning on swimming in the protected harbor if the warm sunny days continue.  There were lots of swimmers and divers enjoying the waters today.  It is flip-flop weather right now.

The town is a little busier than Corniglia was.  Every inch is uphill or downhill.  The sitting benches come in handy on the hike uphill to our place.

When we see the church steeple we know we are almost home.

Amazingly we are still enjoying our Italian meals.  Every night it's another adventure in food.  So far they have all been good adventures.  Terri loved her pasta with vegetables tonight.

Main street at dusk - boats and laundry - they've got it all.

She's ready to hang her feet in the Med.

Life is good..... wish you were here with us Sara.

At sunset tonight.