Ciao from the Italian Coast! - 5/21/2003

Cinque Terre

Ciao from the Itailian Coast!

Paul and I write from internet station #5 in the first city of the Cinque Terre (5 Lands). They are a group of "hanging garden" type of towns that hug the cliffs of the sheer marble/granite coast, overlooking the waters that shine 4 or 5 different colors of blue. There is a trail that connects them and we have already hiked it. It takes about 5 hours to complete and can be quite rugged. We returned today after meeting up with Paul's parents. We won't make them hike it, for it can be quite rugged and very taxing in the inclines and descents.

Our first stop to Florence was also very nice. We were surprized by all that we could see in the short amount of time we had there. We had an excellent room with a view of the Duomo -- a famous, almost painted looking church that is made of inlaid marble, each of a different color. We saw the Boboli Gardens and felt as if we should have been walking around in old 18th century costumes, "stealing moments" from behind giant topiaries and white marble statues.

We did the "one-hour" tour of Pisa in between trains. Enough time to see the town, take a few photos, and figure out were to catch our next train. The views from the train have also been great as the poppies are blooming bright red and they are harvesting their rounded bales of hay in the field. Coupled with the Italian cypress trees, it looks straight out of Van Gogh.

We will be here a few more days before heading north. All 8 of us have been doing a lot of walking, eatting and site seeing. Will write perhaps from Milan.

Ciao!