Sunday, May 08, 2011

Pisa, Italy


Pisa, Italy
Pleasantly surprised-cooler than we excepted
City feel- very dirty though:(



Could be over the top beautiful if they would just clean it up and restore the buildings
Didn't feel super safe around the train station- didn't get pick-pocketed-yay!
Stayed right in the middle of town at a super old B&B called Borgo Largo 51 - ever in Pisa you must stay there..won't be disappointed






View from window down to the busy street
Lots of young professionals drinking wine late at night in the square
Well worth the 24 hour stop in Pisa don't need longer though
Leaning tower was humorously leaning very funny ; it was sunk into the ground about 4' on one side and about 8' on the other.



That's Greg getting wet


Me in front of the Duomo at night



Walked all around Pisa and found this University-Greg liked this area



Climbed to the top of the leaning tower for a beautiful/rainy view:)



Climbing the tower-that marble was so slick because of the rain
Italy is the place for me: pizza, gelato everyday would never
gets old, miss Mexican food though
Duomo was beautiful. It doesn't get the respect it should- by far the prettiest cathedral yet


Me taking it all in...this is me contemplating:)




Everywhere you turn there is an Italian couple making out -right out in the open, even on the steps of a cathedral:/







Everybody was doing it:)
Abby really wanted a picture of me holding up the tower-promise;)
Saw our Seattle friends from Vernazza on train to Florence
it was very nice to see Americans
Train station to Florence was way easier-we are getting better:)
Not many Americans in Pisa more Asian people than you expect. The train to Florence is 50/50 american
Food didn't impress us
Pizza fair but we did have some yummy cheese and salami that we got to eat on the train- Greg was in heaven
Our legs are so sore from walking that I winced getting out of bed this morning:/
Almost bought hot pink Italian sneakers but Greg didn't think I could pull it off:) ha! They were high top sneakers!
Everyone here has crazy cute shoes...colored sneakers are where's it at!
Also a ton of teenagers had converse on- I wasn't expecting that
We could start a biz shipping carthartt clothes to Italy. And converse and timberland.



Some church in Pisa at sunset...lots of churches, almost as much many as America:)
Didn't see one baptist church, wonder why?:)

Here's another good shot. Greg took most of the pictures just in case you were wondering why I'm the only one in most of the pics:)



Beauty Beyond Belief!!!


We are currently riding in a train to Pisa, Italy. The train is always an adventure and honestly you don't know you are on the right one until you "hopefully" get there and have your feet on the ground, it's kinda nerve racking but exciting all at the same time. We haven't failed yet- keep your fingers crossed:) All us Americans look ridiculous walking all over the station...secretly I think it amuses the Italians;)
I don't blame them for laughing!
Well the Cinque Terre was beyond words! Well I guess I do have a few words to share about it:)
Greg and I both feel like it is quintessential Italy. It's what would be in the movies- probably has been actually!
Here's a night picture, notice the laundry on the clothes lines and the wind blowing- amazing!



At every turn you want to take a picture but you know there is no possible way to capture what you are actually seeing.

They say this area was a hiding treasure for years but thanks to Rick Steves and his traveling expertise we all get to enjoy the beauty!
It is such a laid back town where basically everyone eats, hikes, eats, drinks wine and lays by the sea (sometimes naked;) and did I say drinks wine?:)
Yesterday was an unbelievable adventure hiking from town to town, there are 5 towns in all and yesterday we hiked to 4 of the 5! Wow it was crazy! We took so many pictures and met some amazing people along the path. We have made so many friends all the world. Everyone is so kind and so ready to strike up a conversation! We have a few of them that we plan of meeting in Florence when we get there-so fun!
I plan on making a slideshow of all the best pictures when we get home but for now I will share our favorite highlights and my iPhone notes I took along the way...I've got a bunch get ready:)

Cinque Terre reflections:
Breath taking
Never ever seen beauty like this
Pesto invented here...amazing, not as much garlic but very good
People hold nothing back here
Lady changing on the rocks completely naked, Greg was very uncomfortable:/
Mountains next to the sea is how it should always be done
You haven't seen Italy until you have been to a small med. town it's like you are on a movie set
Hike between towns:
Amazing scenic pictures can't do it justice with a camera!
Vineyards, olive gardens, lots of rock stairs, mountains, seaside views, unbelievable!
Eating at Osteria Mananan-authentic Italian no English
Restaurant in what looks like a wine cellar-cold in here
Have no idea what we are ordering but haven't been disappointed yet!
Wonderful pesto and focaccia eat it anytime breakfast, lunch, dinner in Cinque Terre
Anti-pasta first course meal by itself! Legit!


Water fresh from mountain wonderful!
Restaurant owners hangout in the alleys chatting drinking wine all day
Olives tart, salty and juicy
Playing Bon Jovi in restaurant
They have nude pictures of men stomping grapes in a huge wash tub on the wall- interesting art choice:/
I've seen too many nude men for my taste
No pepper in tables, just salt
Everyone here reminds me of Natasha:) could be her family?;)
Playing "she's a man eater" on radio- funny but odd can't help but sing along...dumb Americans:)
Pesto pasta amazing beyond words


Noodles fresher than I've ever had
Pesto not as ground up
All but licked our plate!
I keep speaking Spanish instead of Italian
Lots of superstitions here in Italy
I'm not into it:)
Had the BEST iced Cappuccino this morning...then again after dinner:)


They put fraps to shame!
Walking in town tonight we think we pasted Rick Steves?
Yes we did indeed pass him and I got a picture with him. I stalked him and waited for him outside after he ate some dinner- I knew no one would believe us:) needed proof
He's like a local celeb here everyone was trying to talk him...Americans that is:)
So very tired tonight- might have shinsplints?
No hot water tonight bc Greg takes way too long in the shower for a guy...what takes him so long? It's a mystery to me:)
Gonna wash some clothes tomorrow- couldn't rough it as much as we would have liked...that hike today got us dirty!


At the hotel they give you towels that look like my grandmas old teacup towels for her kitchen
They actually work really well...
Note to self: buy teacup bath towels when I get home
Where do I get those? Hum..
There is a duck laying on her eggs outside our window- she is loud all the time
I dream of throwing rocks at her:/





Bell tower starts dinging at 7am every half hour also right out our window...I like the sound of an alarm clock much better- never thought I would ever say that:)
Every American in Europe are best friends it's like everyone is family... A big traveling family!
Note to self: bring a hairdryer next time even if you check every hotel along the way to make sure they have one. European hairdryers are lame
Greg and I can put down a lot of food - we surprise people:)
Beaches here have gravel sand-not so lovely


Our hotel here...very basic but quaint



Stairs to room...lots of steps. We had a rooftop room


Water view shot. Our room is right behind us in the orange building


Lots of rocks to climb by the water....the kids would have loved it!


View of Vernazza from the castle at the top of town



Castle. You could climb to the top and get some great pictures



Climbing the tower


We loved to take pictures by random doors....lots of random doors. Where do they go?



Our battery ran out on our camera on the hike to the next town so Greg volunteered me to run back down into town to get it...how sweet of him huh? :). Took me 30 minutes or so to go back down the mountain into town and back up. He's very happy I workout:)



Taking a break on our hike. We needed it!
Not sure how long it was but I know it was over 7 miles for sure!!! Not for the faint of heart;) Although we did see a guy with a prosthetic leg hiking along-Impressive!





Greg's become a pretty good photographer along the way:)


Crazy good scenery but this picture does it no justice sadly!!! It's pretty good though




Riomaggiore, Italy



Pretty enough to eat:)




Vineyard to the right, olive grove to the left!




Greg's favorite restaurant



Me in Greg's favorite restaurant;) it was mine too!

Location:Cinque Terre, Italy

Monday, May 02, 2011

Rick Steves

We were sitting in Vernazza tonight minding our own business, and look who we ran into. It looks like he reads his own books.





Location:Vernazza, Italy

The Adventure Begins!

Greg and I are in Italy for our 10th anniversary for 12 days!

We are currently traveling by train from Rome, Italy to the Cinque Terre, a welcomed break for our legs from our last 24 hour sprint through Rome:)
Traveling by train is where it's at:)
We were delayed a day due to storming in NY and we missed our connection for Rome. We were very disappointed but took it in stride...nothing we could do. I think the Lord was teaching us a lesson;
He's sovereign over all things: His plan prevails! I trust we were not suppose to be on that April 28th flight to Rome, not sure why but I know it to be true.

Once we arrived in Rome it was on, no nap for us we had alot to see and do! We both did not sleep much on the plane but only got a few hours total...we lied to ourselves that we got more than we got so we could make it through the day. We're young we did just fine:)
We actually got to see almost everything we had planned to do in Rome but just in turbo speed:)
Yesterday we saw the Vatican Museum, Colosseum, Roman Forum and did a night walking tour of Rome. We got lots of pictures, about 100, I am very proud of us!
We ate lots of pizza and Gelato...I think we experienced Rome to it fullest don't you?:)
Yesterday was Greg's 33rd birthday so we celebrated in style;


Greg's favorite: cannoli. What better place to have it right?
Happy Birthday to Greg:)

Along the way I have been taking notes on my iPhone and have documented some funny, interesting things that happened to us along the way. I am warning you that these are thoughts not complete sentences...this is your warning:)

On the 8 hour flight to Rome:
Lady on the plane sitting across the aisle from me: veggie vegan insisting upon food that met her dietary requirements-she was a piece of work. She got a yogurt and no one else did, while she was sleeping I almost stole it:)
Sitting in the row in front of a newborn baby and her shh shh shhing Mom-- headphones were our friends- best friends:)
Baby actually didn't bug us just the mom surprisingly:)
While in Rome:
You say Rome they say Roma. I like Roma;) I will call it Roma.
Saw Nuns singing and paying guitar in Vatican city. They were singing Blessed be the name of the Lord, still not sure what they believe?
Vatican museum well worth the trip but once was enough
Don't be fooled by the "Uscita" exit signs in the museum they are just pointing to an exit in the future but it doesn't mean it's anywhere close! Took us an hour to exit, it took so long it was humorous:)
Pope is to Roma as Babe Ruth is to baseballa
Gelato every 2 hours is permitted yet you may run out of Euros- beware!
You are allowed to be rude in Europe
Every tourist is in their own world. Keep on your toes or you might get trampled.
Street pizza was the best
Not much cheese, but good
Mushrooms were a little much, try something different next time
Birds eating on a biscuit never having to risk it (inside joke...sorry)
Should have bought my wedding dress here!:)
Taxi drivers have small cars for a reason
They like to fit them in small spots in front of moving buses
You think smart cars are small? Then you haven't seen some of these cars.
Could die in taxi this week.


Insane taxi driver!
Worse than NY taxi drivers-by far. Smaller cars fit in smaller places.
Tax drivers text while driving and tweet and Facebook...and..and:)
Jet lag/plane ride all night makes my legs go numb. Weird.
Can you say blood clot:/ ha! (don't worry Dad, I'm kidding:)
Coliseum is super old:) very impressive, my favorite so far
Rain and our anniversary trips are synonymous. (see NY anniversary trip post:)
Local Roma people are very nice. Don't speak a lick of English but very nice.
I could spend lots of money shopping in Italy...lots
I bought a scarf, a perfect Italian scarf:)
Scarfs are the foundation of any good outfit..well that's my opinion anyway.
Every street is a sidewalk unless a taxi comes then you need to get out of the way fast! They don't stop for people, ever.
I don't know why I stressed about what I would wear in Italy.
Everyone here either looks totally wacked out or is an old person dressed in Rick Steve's suggested dressing wardrobe:)
They aren't kidding, you walk ALOT!!!
3 days in and our clothes already need to be sprayed with febreeze- uh-oh:/
Best gelato in Roma- Giolitti- hands down!
They put this yummy heavy whipped cream all over the top! Insane!
Gained at least 3 pounds in Roma- it's gonna be a great trip:)
We will lose it later!
the train station is pretty overwhelming. No one speaks English except every other lost American and they don't know where to go either:)
There are palm trees in Roma- surprising.
Large marble statues are a dime a dozen here. So common in fact that you may find one tucked in the corner of a bathroom stall:)
Still not sure why everyone here needs a bidet, do people have dirtier bottoms here? Hum.
They are not easy to use...just sayin'

Well that's all of my notes thus far... Stay tuned I have lots of thoughts normally:)

Almost to the Cinque Terre...I can already see the Mediterranean Sea!

Here are a few pictures so far...enjoy!



Greg and Rick Steves sitting in a tree...:)
Thank goodness someone's prepared I'd be so lost here alone!!



First italian street pizza--tested and approved. Yum-o!



Lots and lots of naked men. Notice Greg is clothed, thank you Greg;)
I feel "cultured" or dirty. not sure yet? Jury's still out:)



Vatican City and my head. Notice I'm also clothed. You're welcome.



Approaching the Colosseum, impressive!



Rain, rain go away come again in a few weeks!
We are listening to our Rick Steves tour of the Colosseum.



Pantheon at night, 2,000 years old...wow!


Yep. Our diet plan for the week:) we were the only people to have to get a cup because ours was falling off the cone. We must not be as talented as them?


Random old Italian man, isn't he cute? :)


Love the streets of Rome!

Location:Rome, Italy

Cinque Terre

No time to blog, but here are some pictures from today hiking the Cinque Terre...


























Location:Cinque Terre, Italy