The Recap: June 15- Venice for a Day!

We stayed in Lido, an island that is about a 5 minute vaporetti (water taxi) ride to Venice. It was cool to ride a vaporetti for the first time on the Grand Canal and under the Rialto Bridge at night.

The day involved seeing the main sights (Rialto and San Marco) but we went to the church later in the day because it was crazy busy due to the cruise ship crowd. We were happy to eat gelato and get lost around the island and get away from the crowd.

To my surprise, our spaghetti and lasagna lunch was no better than Olive Garden. Oh well. San Marco Duomo is amazing --- gold mosaics cover the ceiling and I still don't understand how they made it. I am even more in awe that the city was built on "sticks" pushed into the water. And to think, the city only sunk a tiny bit. The engineering for the foundation is quite brilliant.

Feet tired, we cruised the Grand Canal once more back to Lido. San Diego beaches are much more impressive than Lido's. We had pretty good pizza on Lido and strolled along the main road before turning in. Ah, Italy, I surely will miss you!

The Recap: Florence June 14

Florence was only short and sweet and a 5 hour stay. But, we covered the "best of" Florence, which was satisfying. Before going to the Duomo, Dave and I enjoyed REALLY good 'Za! Sausage and tomatoe --- really flavorful.

While I couldn't enter the Church because of my bare shoulders, I was able to climb 480 stairs to the top of the Dome in the Church. Essentially, I got to be in the Church with a way better view. I've climbed so many freaking stairs in the past two days --- oh buttocks!

Getting to the train on time was extremely frustrating because they changed tracks to freaking all the way on the other side. Sweating and tired, we weren't to thrilled to be sitting next to two chatty cathy's from Arizona. The way they spoke made them seem like they had little respect for Italian lifestyles and traditions. Lame.

Happily arrived in Venice, sadly in a two twin bed room, with very squishy beds. Even so, slept decent. Venice tomorrow.

CIAO

The Recap: The Cinque Terre June 12

I had time to kill before 6PM to meet up with Riccardo. I went to Levanto and laid in the grass and read my book for 2 hours. Right after I closed the book, a police officer comes up and says, "Sorry, but you can't lay in the grass. Sorry." Really, AFTER 2 hours of, in fact, laying in the grass?? I had to leave to catch the train anyhow. Good timing.

Even better timing, saw Dave when the train stopped at Vernazza on my way down to Rio. Butterflies filled my heart as I wasn't expecting to see him for two more days! Our hands touched for a brief moment as I hung out of the window and looked down at him from the train. He winked at me from the platform as the train departed. Ready for homemade wine! :)

June 13

Aye! Too much wine last night --- good wine --- but too much! I felt good today but wish I woke up earlier. Riccardo drove us to Porto Venere this morning. He drives a yellow Fiat. Cool. Porto Venere was more hoity toity than the other villages, but very beautiful. After we got back, I departed by myself to hike the LOVE TRAIL from Riomaggiore to Manorola. It was a 20 minute walk on the seaside and the ocean air was perfect. Since two trails were closed, I trained to Corniglia and Vernazza.

I almost died climbing 383 steps to the center of Corniglia! Damn wine! :-/ Corniglia is up high and has an awesome view! Breathtaking. At Vernazza, I bought a spicy chocolate and banana gelato. No, no, I know you're jealous. At Manorola, I bought a slice of pesto pizza. YUMZ. In flip flops, I hiked a rocky and semi steep trail from Vernazza to Monterroso, the last village.

Again, about died going up the trail rock stairs --- probably 380 steps too, dammit.

But the view --- AH BENE! and so worth it! 1 and 15 minutes later, I arrive at Monterosso. I walked around the old town. I just love how all the houses are built on each other. Such color and character. SPENT.

I headed back to the Riomaggiore. Riccardo again made me dinner --- Rabbit sauteed in olives, carrots, garlic, onion and olive oil. Really good! Last night I enjoyed homemade cannelloni. Bed early and rise early tonight. Riccardo is a good man and I'm very lucky to have found him on the couchsurfing site. I recommend him to anyone surfing in the Cinque Terre.

Can't wait to start the next part of my journey with my favorite company, Dave!

FLORENCE AND VENICE MANANA!

The Recap: Siena June 11

Getting to Siena was fairly painless. A 2 hour wait in Tiburtina is not ideal but 3 hours later, I arrived at 2PM. Thankfully, Siena had baggage check so I didn't have to lug around 30lbs of crap until 7PM when I met Richard.

Richard is French, by the way, not Italian like I thought. I was a little made fun of for not recognizing, but the accent sounded kind of Italian because he speaks Italian too. Before I digress, the Piazza is SO beautiful that I walked around it probably a dozen times. Two people were married in the city the day I was there in City Hall, right inside the Piazza. The whole people clap and cheer when the couple comes out of City Hall. Precious.

The Duomo is a bit of a hike from the Piazza...not far, just steep. Siena is very hilly. 3 Euro to go inside the church but OMG amazingly worth it! I took tons of pictures to try and capture the grandiose but it's not possible. The alternating black and white marble reminded me of Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas. Before I met up with Richard, I enjoyed ensalata de caprese in the Piazza Del Campo. Peaceful.

Richard lives a 20 minute walk outside of the city center. Not conducive for carrying 30 lbs extra, but not unbearable. Later, we met up with his friends for apertivo, or in U.S. speak "Happy Hour", which was enjoyable and thankfully only 5 euro.

Richards friends speak little English, but they tried. It's nice, but a little frustrating at the same time to hear beautiful Italian that you don't understand. I forget her name but she looked like Amanda Peet, Richard's friend read my love fortune last night. I was to shuffle cards and think of someone of whom I care deeply...Dave, of course.

I gave Amanda Peet the cards and she did her thing. Immediately she asked if I was engaged --- Um, NO :) She laid down 4 cards and said the Man I think about is very good for me and we love each other very much. We have similar personalities, which is why our bond is so strong, hence why she asked about engagement. Curious.

Richard's fortune was no so endearing as mine. This was weird because he and I had spoken earlier about his girlfriend and his relationship, which matched his fortune...girlfriend infatuated, him not as much, only because it'll be long distance soon...

Anyway, it was a nice night overall. The next morning, or today, I sweated my butt off carrying my load to the bus station, only to find that where I want to go is train ONLY. This was very upsetting because the train station is like a 30 minute walk from the bus station.

I started heading towards the train station when a man on a scooter saw me and asked, "You go to train?? You want ride?" I thought, wow, Siena is so great and the people are so nice! Mind you, I had a conversation with Richard the day before about how Siena is one of the safest cities in Italy and people are very friendly. I declined a couple times but the man insisted.

So I hopped on his scooter and we headed to the train station. To my shocking surprise, and also THANKFULLY at the END of the ride (train station in sight), this savior in disguise grabbed my hand and pulled it close to his crotchal region. I moved my hand up immediately because I thought he just wanted me to hold on since we were going down a hill.

WRONG. He grabbed my hand again and moved it down. Firmly, I said, "NO! Boyfriend! NO!" He said, "Oh! But just a little bit?" He gestured with his index finger and thumb to make the 'little bit' symbol. --- NO! A million times NO!.

Goddamn you, Siena. We almost said our goodbyes on the happiest note. In fact, I was looking forward to telling this store about how kind people are --- but in this case, this guy had asked for a price. So glad I'm on the train now and headed to the CINQUE TERRE!!! :)