Today's gelatos

1.lemon and pineapple
2pistacio and hazelnut
(yes, two today!)

Easter Sunday

All lights on tonight with the risrn Lord in the top right hand corner flanked by two 'angels'?

Vernassa

tt Too tired tonight to recount the whole day - enough to say that it was another great day and that we have just one day left and one more walk to do from Caniglia to Vernassa.  Hope there won't be as many people around as today!

Riomaggori

Church bells called us to Easter Sunday mass and it was beautiful despite only picking up the odd 'Christo', 'anno', 'espiritu', 'domini'. Italian is such a musical language it was delightful to hear and the church was ornately decorated with marble and paintings. We had not been to Riomaggorie yet so headed there today. Sunny weather but very busy with lots of holiday visitors.

Easter Saturday

Stations of the Cross

Since we got here in Manarola we have been intreged by the figures up the hill representing the ststions of the cross. We did ask some locals what was going to happen with themz and received a variety of responses, none of which made any sense. However tonight all was revealed  - a magical display of lights.

Todays gelato

Tropical passion (pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, rum and caramel) and caramel and nuts!

Genova

Lazy day yesterday with both Karen and I with colds so with Maurizios advice today we caught the train to Genova (Geonoa) with not a great deal of information about what we might see. We were delighted, despite the rain to find a beautiful city. It's Good Friday today so each church was open with a variety of activities. Mostly they were just magnificent to look at inside and out. The San Donato Church had an elaborate display of priest's robes.All of the information was in Italian so we could not work out the significance but they were lovely and we guess quite old and greatly cherished by this church. Interesting to note that although today id Good Friday it was not a pulic holday - business as usual for the Genovese and no hot cross buns to be found! Genova is the biggest seaport in Italy and is the birth place of Christopher Columbus.c

Today's Gelato

Banana and Pistacio

Porto Venere

The walk to Porto Venere

After a more relaxed day yesterday we set off this morning at 9 with Maurizio,mour host and two other guests who are from Austria to walk to Porto Venere. Maurizio drove us part of the way and we then walked for 4 hours through pine forests and along rocky paths with stunning views to both the Gulf of La Specia and the Ligurian Sea. Once again it took me to the limits of my fitness. My legs felt like jelly by the time we walked down, down, down the hill into Porte Venere. By then the sun was shining on the water looking over to La Specia. Maurizio arrived to take us back to Manarola to watch the sun go down over another perfect day.

Sunset in Manarola

Gelatiholic

Went off to buy panini for lunch on the walk and came back with a gelati (icecream)!

Corniglia

Woke to a glorious morning after a forcast of rain for the rest of the week. Sun was shining on the Stations of the Cross on the hillside opposite our apartment. They are there in preparation for Good Friday. Technology is amazing. I 'Skyped' Mum and Dad and was able to take the tablet outside to show them the beautiful view when Mauritsio the owner of the building was also outside. Mum was able to talk to him and he was able tl see her.  He is 47 and still lives with hid Mamma. I think she runs the show!

Headed off then to catch a local bus to Volastri at the top of the mountain and thenfrom there walk to Caniglia. Although hard in places the view was amazing. We bought sandwiches in Volastri so stopped for a picnic and admired the view.

Karen Eating Again

Sunday March 24
Lunch in a very wet Monterossa.

Anchovies

This region of Liguria is famous for its anchovies so we took the opportunity tonight to have anchovies for dinner. Karen had Spaghetti with anchovies in white wine and I had Pizza Napolitana. Superb meal after the long walk.

Walk numero sei (No. 6)

First full day in Manarola we had our porridge and set off on walk number 6 which Mauriso assured us was an easy 90min walk. I am sure he was looking at us and thinking that that would be all two 'old girls' could manage. Well we would show him!!  FOUR hours later we crawled back. Very hilly walk with lots of steps. It was really beautiful scenery up the coast to Corniglia and beyond. The temperature was just right for a walk. We no sooner got gack and it started to rain.

Manarola

Sadly our time at Via Dei Georgofili 3 in Florence has come to an end. We  packed up this morning, found a taxi to take us to the train station to catch the train to La Spezia, change trains to get to Manarola , the second town in the Cinque Terre. Overcast day but pleasnt in the train.

Spectacular
views as the train passed through long tunnels that emerged over a spectacular ocean.
Arrived in the cliff side township of Manarola. Lugging our bags up the hill and endless steps was soon forgotten when we saw the view!

Inspiration

You could not help but be inspired to paint when surrounded by such beautiful art wherever you turn in Florence.3

Cars for Dad

We noticed this Ferrari parked in a taxi rank and of course had to wonder if the taxis in Italy are in fact red ferraris?

Some more highlights of Florence

Flower markets

Rows and rows of scooters

The view of the Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi

A bar in Florence

Here is one for you Morgan. I wanted to prove to you that Florence is more than just art galleries. Look carefully at what sort of bar it is.