European Trip – Italy

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After leaving Monaco we traveled by motor coach to Italy and by train to Cinque Terre (a region of 5 small fishing villages) on the Italian Riviera and explored Riomaggiaore – one of these villages. Here I climbed the streets, alleyways, and steps to the top for a great view of the Mediterranean Sea. This little village was one of my favorite stops, and if I one day get back to Italy I would like to see the other four villages that make up Cinque Terra (a train runs between the villages or you can walk). If you want to go, I recommend Rick Steves’ guidebook – Italy’s Cinque Terra.

It was then on to Florence. I was excited about “eating my way through Italy,” but it turns out being on a tour is not the way to do that. I did have some very authentic and very good Italian food, but I went home feeling like I had a lot of beef and not much pasta. For lunch one day when I was on my own I had pizza. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was a bit disappointed with the Italian pizza, and actually preferred the French version. I guess my taste buds are too “Americanized” for true Italian pizza.

On our last day in Italy we traveled to Sienna to a vineyard. As I took my last photo there – a landscape view – I thought how odd and sad it was going to be back in Minnesota the next day . . .

One of the many very large churches in Europe

One of the many very large churches in Europe

View from a vineyard 24 hours before returning home.

View from a vineyard in Sienna 24 hours before returning home.

 

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