Italy 2012

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Sunday June 24, 2012
Venice

Monday June 25, 2012
Venice to Vernazza, lunch in Pisa

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Tuesday June 26, 2012
Vernazza

We took the 832am first class train to Firenze, arriving at 1040am. Second class train to Pisa was very average and a letdown after first class. In Pisa, we managed to quickly find the baggage check, then almost as quickly found the bus stop and a bus to the Field of Miracles.

2012-06-25 13:07

It was scorching hot. CJ and I were the only ones interested in seeing the Duomo and the Baptistery, so we waited perhaps 10 minutes in line for tickets, then went to the Duomo. I had seen the Duomo briefly during mass in 2005 from the back. Up close it was even more impressive.

St Ranieri

2012-06-25 13:15

2012-06-25 13:20

2012-06-25 13:21

2012-06-25 13:25

The Baptistry

The baptistry was very plain – the acoustics were the only interesting thing inside, and they certainly weren’t worth waiting in line or paying for. When we found Kathy, she told us that Bob and Robby had gone to McDonalds for lunch, and they returned shortly after we arrived. We then found a quick bite to eat and waited in the very very hot sun for a taxi back to the train stations.

2012-06-25 13:52

Taxis not working

We saw at least half a dozen taxis a few blocks away. Someone reported that they had gone down there, only to be told that those taxis are not available, and that they would have to wait at the taxi stand. It was fairly absurd. After perhaps 15 minutes we finally found a taxi driver who was willing to actually work for a living and we got back to the station, reclaimed our bags, and caught our train to La Spezia.

We had a 20 minute layover in La Spezia, then a 20 minute train to Vernazza. We couldn’t find the street with our apartment until we asked for help – the street was the steep alleyway next to the pharmacia. We dragged our suitcases up, and up, and up, before finding Annamarie at #64.

http://www.camerelatorre.com/index2.html

She showed us the apartment, which was 2 floors up from her apartment. Later MotionX told me that the apartment is 174’ above sea level. She then showed us the room where we intended for Bob and Karin to stay. The room is much higher up the trail, and the trail is much sketchier above the apartment. Kathy quickly decided that she and I would stay in the room, and I quickly decided that we would leave all the luggage in the apartment. We all stayed at the apartment during the day, only went up to our room at night to sleep. The room is at 302’ elevation – like climbing 30 flights of stairs. The trail up to the apartment isn’t bad, especially without luggage, but the trail past the apartment to the room is a real workout. Annamarie’s restaurant is shortly above the apartment, right behind the small tower. Her son’s bar is just below the room. The room is literally 30’ from the toll booth for the Cinque Terra hike to Corniglia. Once we got situated everyone decided I’d done pretty well, at least view-wise.

Million dollar views, insanely small clausterphobic room and apartment. Hikers were stopped on the trail both at our apartment and the room taking pictures all day long.

I hiked up and down the hill at least 3 times with groceries – the store isn’t well marked, it didn’t open until 17:30, and it was a mob scene the minute it opened. The heat was oppressive, but at least now we had cold drinks in the fridge.
We had dinner on the waterfront.

The view from the terrace of Annamarie's apartment.
The view is actually much better than this picture, since it also is panoramic seaview

Annemarie's picture from her website - View from the apartment at 172' above sea level

Annemarie's picture from her website - The apartment

Annemarie's picture from her website - Interior of the main floor of the very, very small apartment.
The spiral staircase down to the very wet basement / bedroom is to the left.

The trail above the Annamarie's restaurant is steep and sketchy.
Annamaria's room, which sits on an a very steep unstable terrace, is at 302' elevation and only 30' from the toll booth to the trail to Corniglia.
The room is tiny, but you could host well over a dozen people on the patio..