Cinque Terre and other Good Things
I have returned from our first trip as a group. Parts of it were perfect and parts of it were not so perfect. We had beautiful sunny weather. The sites are magnificent. The food was incredible. A couple of the twenty year olds acted like 12 year olds.
First was Lucca. It is so beautiful and charming. After our 1 2/2 hour walking tour, we did not have time to ride bicycles around the wall because there was a street market going on and Tracy and I had to shop. Several of the students did rent the bicycles and they loved it.
Next was Pisa. If possible, it is now more commercialized. There is now a big bus and car parking area with gas station, snack bar and bathrooms. They also have a tram to take you to the gates in front of the tower, cathedral, baptistery and cemetery. When I have been here before there were stalls and vendors from just outside the gates and lining the street opposite the tower and other sites. Now, the vendors go another quarter of a mile in front of the gates. People are clamoring to buy a plaster of paris leaning tower or a t-shirt of the tower and Snoopy (yes, the person who will not be named DID purchase such a shirt!).
The bus trip to La Spezia was much shorted this time around. We arrived at the station there only seconds before the train. The train trip only seemed like five minutes this time. Finally, we arrived in Vernazza and it has not changed one bit. They did paint the church steeple but other than that it is the same lovely spot.
The hike from the bottom town to the third town was not a hard as before. Maybe it was the difference in temperature (about 20 degrees cooler than the last time I walked that trail) but I still did not do that climb from the third town to Vernazza. I do so love the train system here!
The only blemish on the three day adventure was some boys trying to act cool but ending up acting like they were silly little boys. They stayed up till 1:30 or 2:00 am being loud and obnoxious. All the faculty members were in different hotels and we did not hear it. There was an apology from a couple of them and the very beautiful Francesca gave them a lecture on respecting other guests in the hotel. Robbie had already taken the train home before we found out about it. He will tell them tomorrow how disappointed he is and they will be penitent. I told them that I would love them again tomorrow but for today I was way too upset to even talk to them.
Tonight Robbie, Mona, Tracy and I took a former HUF student (from the late 80’s) and her husband out to dinner. It was wonderful. The specialty of the house is butter fried chicken breasts. My eyeballs almost rolled back into my head! Robbie also ordered some Tripe because he says this place has the best in Florence. I tasted it but will not order it on my own. Way too slimy for me. I did eat some calamari in Vernazza that I liked. Robbie’s friend made a special dinner for Robbie and Tracy and me of the seafood specialties. It was dipped in a light batter and fried…the skinny pieces taste better than the rings.
So, I hiked, I ate calamari, I ate tripe. Who knew I could do those things?
Tammie I did eat a gelato for you in Vernazza. You really did enjoy it!
Cute breakfast cappuccino.
My happy toes on the beach.
posted by BW @ 5:32 PM
7 Comments:
Vernazza, one of my favorite places on earth! I'm sorry some of the guys misbehaved but maybe thay have it out of their system and the rest of the semester will be better. I really don't think they realize that when they cause problems it tarnishes the experience for us. We are dodging storms tonight and it is very hot and unpleasant here. Keep the posts coming!
ICK! You ate tripe?!?!? Next thing you know, you'll be trying haggis! Bet it tasted like my word verification...sdhdo.
Rushton,
I was brave and tasted it. It DID taste exactly like your word verfication...sdhdo, mixed with my word verfication...dykqcyo.
My current motto is "just say no to haggis!"
now, that restaurant in florence is the one I wanted to take you to...trattoria sostanza. my very favorite way to eat chicken in the world!
Oh, Miss Beckie, you are so into enjoying your trip that you tried tripe? You are so much of a better taster than I am. I think when we were in Vernazza that I ate the bread....sorry, I'm not a seafood girl!! Cinque Terre was the trip where our group really bonded and became close. I hope that a certain 20ish year old that I know did not mess it up for everyone else.....
You mean that you DIDN'T want to buy a Snoopy t-shirt with her? Ya'll could be twins! he he he
Eat lots and lots of wonderful food for us...I'll eat lots of Texas bar-b-que for you!!
Thanks for eating gelato for me...I'm glad I really liked it. Thank you for eating the tripe for yourself. I do not think that I will be trying that especially after your description. Evidentially those guys who were loud in Vernazza were like those Americans who were there when we were there and had not read the travel guide which specifically says that you are to be quite and blend in there because they are not fond of tourists. It's one of my favorite places on earth, too and probably one of Laura's because it is where she talked the little man into giving us two rooms for the price of one so she could be away from her mother's snoring for a few nights.
Sounds like such a wonderful trip inspite of a few kids...and the tripe! ugh! what a thought, reminds me of the street market in China. They also love that sort of thing boiled. The beach looked lovely, its hot,muggy and stormy here. Miss you and can't wait to hear more!! (Sorry to call right at curfew...hadn't been able to get through and had to give Jon his Fafsa number to finish his money stuff)
Post a Comment
<< Home