Between work I have managed to fit in a few travels…
First of all – SAN MARINO! A beautiful country right in the middle of northern Italy. It was a nice train ride through the Tuscan hills and vineyards to the sea and then a bus ride up to the country on the top of the hill. Apparently no one else wanted to live on the top of the same hill and so it was left alone through all the years by the numerous groups fighting over Italy. The views were stunning and the three castles were fun to visit. . It was nice to be out in the countryside and surrounded by green and glimpses of the sea.
LA COSTA MAREMMA!
For Easter Break Christina and I took the train out to the coast Maremma. We were hoping for some blue skies and beach time but the weather was not so cooperative. However, we did have a nice walk along the beach and it was so nice to see water and sand! We stayed in a cute little town called Follonica for the night and then took the train down to Porto San Stefano. We took a ferry out to the Isola del Giglio (Giglio Island). It was a bumpy trip out there but the little island was cute. We hiked up to a quaint little castle town on on the top of the hill and enjoyed the island views. We came back for an awesome Easter dinner with my roommates – lots of food and my very own huge, chocolate egg with a surprise inside. Monday (which is Pasquetta - and another holiday here) we went to the hot springs south of SIena with some friends. It was a relaxing day and a great weekend..
PORTOVENERE AND CINQUE TERRE
Titti and I took the Saturday to go visit one of my favorite places in Italy. It was a beautiful day – summer has already arrived here for good or bad.. We first took the bus out to Portovenere because I hadn’t been there and it is a beautiful little town south of La Spezia with a seaside church and castle and pretty views. Then we took the train up to Riomaggiore – the first of the 5 little towns. We hiked the coast – the Via dell’Amore (way of love) up to the last town. Full of great views, lots of sun, stunning seaside scenery and some huge hills. We only had about an hour to relax, lie on the beach and take a most refreshing “bath” in the sea before we had to catch the train back home. All in all, a beautiful day.
Only about a month left of school!! I will sincerely miss my class this year and my students but I am ready for a break. It has already gotten hot here in Florence – we had a week of 90 degree weather – a little AC would be nice but I guess I ought to get used to it. Good thing the gelato festival is going on right now.
First of all – SAN MARINO! A beautiful country right in the middle of northern Italy. It was a nice train ride through the Tuscan hills and vineyards to the sea and then a bus ride up to the country on the top of the hill. Apparently no one else wanted to live on the top of the same hill and so it was left alone through all the years by the numerous groups fighting over Italy. The views were stunning and the three castles were fun to visit. . It was nice to be out in the countryside and surrounded by green and glimpses of the sea.
LA COSTA MAREMMA!
For Easter Break Christina and I took the train out to the coast Maremma. We were hoping for some blue skies and beach time but the weather was not so cooperative. However, we did have a nice walk along the beach and it was so nice to see water and sand! We stayed in a cute little town called Follonica for the night and then took the train down to Porto San Stefano. We took a ferry out to the Isola del Giglio (Giglio Island). It was a bumpy trip out there but the little island was cute. We hiked up to a quaint little castle town on on the top of the hill and enjoyed the island views. We came back for an awesome Easter dinner with my roommates – lots of food and my very own huge, chocolate egg with a surprise inside. Monday (which is Pasquetta - and another holiday here) we went to the hot springs south of SIena with some friends. It was a relaxing day and a great weekend..
PORTOVENERE AND CINQUE TERRE
Titti and I took the Saturday to go visit one of my favorite places in Italy. It was a beautiful day – summer has already arrived here for good or bad.. We first took the bus out to Portovenere because I hadn’t been there and it is a beautiful little town south of La Spezia with a seaside church and castle and pretty views. Then we took the train up to Riomaggiore – the first of the 5 little towns. We hiked the coast – the Via dell’Amore (way of love) up to the last town. Full of great views, lots of sun, stunning seaside scenery and some huge hills. We only had about an hour to relax, lie on the beach and take a most refreshing “bath” in the sea before we had to catch the train back home. All in all, a beautiful day.
Only about a month left of school!! I will sincerely miss my class this year and my students but I am ready for a break. It has already gotten hot here in Florence – we had a week of 90 degree weather – a little AC would be nice but I guess I ought to get used to it. Good thing the gelato festival is going on right now.
