Livorno

I should actually rather call this blog Cinque Terre....yes, the ship arrives in Livorno but the day was spent in Cinque Terre...when i saw there was a chance to go to Cinque Terre...i knew i had to grab it...i have heard so much about these 5 villages and their beauty....i was so excited...so which 5 villages are part of the Cinque Terre....Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso....the bus drove us to La Spezia...then up the windy road to the top of Manarola

View over La Spezia
On way to Manarola

From there we had to walk into Manarola...only residents are allowed to drive into the village, buses, taxis and all non-residents have to leave their vehicles at the top...so yes...if you would rent a car and have the hotel inside Manarola....you would have to carry down your suitcase...so in actual fact...the best way to get into Manarola is by train...the train also connects all 5 villages....we had free time to explore Manaralo and enjoy its beauty....old village..but thats where the beauty lies....i just love Italy and all these little villages...

Walking into the main part of Manarola
Manarola
Before boarding the motor boat

After our free time it was time to board the motor boat and make our way past Corniglia to Vernazza...

Corniglia

In Vernazza again...free time...i love that...we could just explore on our own and enjoy its breath-taking beauty....its beautiful...i just love Italy...i really could live there...i guess its sheer beauty, the old towns and building and the simple, fresh food....its just so amazing...love love love it....

Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernazza
Lemons....for Limoncello

After our free time...again...time to board the motor boat and go off Monterosso...where again...we would enjoy 2 hrs of free time...and we decided to take a short stroll and then go for a lunch....our guide had told us that the typical food is pesto which originates from this region...best served with a pasta called trofie...and fresh mussles...and then the white wine from the region...so yes...we found a quaint little restaurant and ordered octopus carpaccio, mussles marinara and trofie al pesto....and not to forget a bottle of Cinque Terre white wine...and the food was delicious...

Monterosso (old town)
Monterosso (new town)
Momterosso (old town)
Cinque Terre white wine
Octopus Carpaccio and Trofie al pesto
Cozze marinara

Then it was Time to board the train (one stop), hop back onto the bus and go back to the beautiful Norwegian Spirit.....what a breath-taking day...but yes...i am bias towards Italy...i just love it all....tomorrow would be Civitavecchia...we would not go to Rome, have seen it, and rather take a stroll through Civitavecchia and then enjoy the sundeck back on the ship....but now....i am off to go and dream about Italy....

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wedding time.....my baby sister's wedding

Image
Oh my word....my sister, who wanted to be a nun (inspired by the movie Sister Act), is getting married....and to a guy that suites her perfectly.....we started getting reAdy around lunch time...make up artist, Victor Ortega, was flown in from Manila. He did my sister's, my mom's and my makeup....but now a few steps back...this wedding pre- celebration started on Wednesday night with a Swiss family dinner, Thursday night a pub crawl and Friday night a close family (Aboitiz and Bucher) at a Spanish tapas place (where the food was amazing...first time i tried nero paella)....but to the pub crawl we get later..... Nero Paella Lechon So....the make up artist was fabulous.....he did an amazing job, he also did the hair for the three of us...the other brides maides' make up and hair was done by his entourage.....here a pic of us getting ready for the big event.... My sister and Victor Victor and me I loved how subtle he did it...and then time for pics with t...
Read more

Hong kong

Image
So, lets do this blog a little different....when you go to Hong Kong, this is my top 10 highlights, things i think you must do (not any particular order): 1. Junk boat cruise (1 hour) 2. Dim sums at Maxims Palace City Hall 3. Deep Fried Pork Bun at Tim Ho Wan 4. Shopping (not neccessarily to buy but just to see) 5. Flute bar in Soho (such a variety of cocktails) 6. Armani Prive bar (rooftop bar) 7. Tram to Victoria Peak 8. Lamma island and of course that includes the hike and seafood 9. Under the bridge crab (garlic crab) 10. Nightmarket with eating local food which includes 1000 year old egg So...now some of those i have done this time in Hong Kong and some i did last time.....so lets do this way..im going to split my experience in Hong Kong in 2 parts, otherwise this blog will be endless.....but im gonna go through all top 10 attractions.... Number 1: Junk boat cruise.....they leave from both the Kowloon side (always on the half of the hour, for example 16:30...
Read more

Podere il Casale

Image
Beautiful place near Monticchiello in the Southern Tuscany. My parents, together with Mutti and Sofia went there whilst Kim and I were in Corsica. They raved about it, stating that it was Swiss owned and they met the couple who owns and runs it. They are actively involved and so are their children. Their food is produced on the farm, they are famous for their Pecorino cheese. They also offer Pizza and bread courses, camping etc etc....in fact i was really looking forward to visiting this place. They have outdoor and indoor seating but i must say the outdoor seating cannot be compared to the indoor hall. The outside is quaint, picturesque and has breath-taking views. There is quite a long dirt road following up to Podere il Casale....its not so easily found. The sign at the entrance is also not too good. Once we parked a beautiful sign welcomed us....let me share a pic... Podere il Casale As mentioned the place was quaint and picturesque with beautiful laid tables....and a fabulous vi...
Read more