Locanda dalla Compagnia Riomaggiore

... trucks, yet the trucks are prohibited from traveling in the fast lane except for passing other trucks. For the most part the trucks are restricted from traveling faster than 80 kilos per hour on the highway (about 50 mph). This creates the threshold speed that the slow lane progresses at. Less trucks on the road can mean that this lane picks up a little. Entering the highway takes a bit of courage. The onramps are short and there is no time ...

... going to hike as far as my wee tired legs will take me today, and then take the ferry back to Riomaggiore, its a bit of an expense but a view that cannot be beat!

So I'm starting today at Riomaggiore, taking a 30 minute walk to Manarola, then about 45 minutes to Corniglia, 90 minutes to Vernazza and maybe 2 hours to Monterosso al Mare, the last stint I may forgo as it's, I hear built for Oylimpic atheletes so ...

... from the area.

Originally, the only way to get to and from these little villages was by small fishing boats or an ancient foot path, which follows the coast connecting all five. Now, the path is well worn, and between a few of the towns, a paved path wide enough for locals tiny three-wheeled trucks to make some deliveries. There's now a boat that picks up and ...

Tuscan Riviera Portovenere
Had seen it on Getaway and looked very pretty.. Found a hotel with sea views and have spent 2 nights here resting , climbing around local castles… eating sleeping and watching the boats go in and out… not much English here but we are not hungry or thirsty so all going well….
Tomorrow we are off to the South of France.. 3 nights planned in Nice.. Really looking forward to it but have loved Italy…

After travelling for the last 6 or more months without a real break we thought we might just settle down for the winter, instead of heading back to London and back to work. We are plonking ourselves with some of Dino's relatives in Tuscany.
Shona can't speak a word of Italian, but is planning to learn and not one of Dino's relatives speaks English. It should be an interesting few months.
We ...

... There was something special to me about the people in these towns who still live off the land (and sea) — it seemed that instead of taking this beautiful place for granted, they appreciated it even more than I did, and in a deeper sense.

But we certainly appreciated our time in the sun, too. My two friends jumped in the ocean and swam with the biggest, scariest-looking jellyfish I have ever seen (I conveniently forgot my bathing ...

... on hills, along the water. All there is to do here is to enjoy: food (gelato of course, I still go by the saying: one gelato a day keeps the doctor away), beaches, and trails. I woke up early this morning to be first on the 5 hour footpath (pffff! I did it in 3.45 hours!) which is basically 9 km of stairs and hills, with the most amazing view!
So I'll just stay here for a few days.. and sunbath..

... the rocks look really cool - they sort of had holes in them. Its hard to explain,they were just weathered rocks but they looked so cool. The water was the hottest I have ever been in. Richard, who has been to Austrailia and the Dominican agrees, as does Jyles who has been to Mexico. It was also an aqua-green colour and crystal clear. You could see to the bottom, and you could see the rockface all along the water, as well as the array of fish ...

... the air conditioning etc and we managed to communicate quite well – she didn't know any English. When we first arrived the guy was yelling out to the lady and it was just like the add on TV back on Oz with the Italian man and woman talking to each other and he scares the birds off the garden.

Everyone here has a beautiful vegetable garden and lots of fruit trees. Grapes grow everywhere, peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, beans, herbs etc ...

... t get lost. Maps cost 3 euros and the one that I had ripped out of my guidebook got stolen. Yes, some sticky fingered jerk stole my map when I first got into Venice. I had it in my backpocket and even double checked it after I put it in there thinking,'I want to make sure I don't lose this so I don't get lost.' After I found it was gone, I rearranged my purse and pockets so the only they could get at was used klennexes. I hope they enjoy those :)