Okay, we get to the train station in plenty of time for the 1815 train. We went to the correct track and waited and waited again. Come to find out, the train had come and gone while we were sitting there, but it was on a different track. So now we have to wait some more. I had finished my book earlier that day, so I didn't have anything to read while I waited.
We finally got on the train and arrived in Florence at 8:15 pm. The concert was at 9:15 so we walked directly to the concert.
It was a classical concert with just a pianist and a tenor. They did pieces of Chopin, Puccini, and Verdis. We had front seats so it was great. There were only about 40 people. It was great watching the pianist glide his fingers on the keys. The tenor was right in front of me. At first I felt like laughing because he was almost in my face and he just came out of nowhere bellowing opera with so much expression. I calmed myself down and refrained from laughing. He was quite good.
The pianist was Belgarian and has won competitions around the world. He actually had done a solo at Carnegie Hall, which I have heard is quite hard to do.
The both of them take part of the proceeds and help an organization in India for underprivileged kids. They also had played three hours earlier than our concert in Siena.
The concert ended about 10:30. We grabbed something to eat and went back to the hostel.
October 1, 2003
October 1st. I can't believe it. Where does the time go?
Today we spent the day traveling again. We left Florence about 10:30 on the train to Pisa. Pisa is the town with the famous tower--The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The cause of the tower to lean is shifting soil. It leans about 5 meters off the perpendicular. The tower had been closed for a decade, but some work has been done to help to stabilize the shift.
The tower is quite impressive to see leaning. It is open, but we saved our money.
That is all we did in Pisa. We walked back to the train and headed for La Spezia. This town is right outside Cinque Terre where we were going. We weren't sure where we were going to spend the night though. We got to La Spezia and found out that a train was leaving shortly for a town that is part of Cinque Terra.
On the train ride I had a couple of glimpses of the sea and cliffs. It looked beautiful. The train pulled into the station. It looked like it was going right into the cliff. There are houses high on the cliffs built together at different heights in yellows, oranges,and peach colors. It was beautiful and the village was also.
Everything is on a hill with the houses built on top or into the side of the cliff. There are terraces of grape vines that go all the way to the cliff above the sea. It is really a neat little village. The name of the village is Manarola. This is a place I would definitely come back to.
We plan on walking to the other villages from here. The whole area of Cinque Terra is a World Heritage Site.
The hostel is up on the hill. There is a view of the sea from the terrace. Very nice! The room was also nice. We got the last couple of beds and we were lucky to have them next to the window.
We settled in and then went for a walk down the hill. This place is loaded with cats. I know Daniel, in Rome, said that they don't put them to sleep. I guess people take care of them. There were the old ladies sitting on the bench in the square talking away. There were people working up in the grape vines.
There are quite a few tourists here for this little village, but it doesn't seem overloaded. I think I have seen more American tourists in Italy than any other country.
Laurie and I walked back to the hostel and sat on the terrace writing notes. It was the perfect temperature.
For dinner, Laurie and I walked to, I think, the only restaurant in town. We sat down and there was a young fellow that sat down at the same time next ot us. We started talking to him. I hate to see people eat alone, I guess because I hate to eat alone. His name was Yves and he was from Luxumborg. It was enjoyable talking to him.
It was about 9:45 by the time we finished. We walked up the hill back to the hostel and went to bed.
October 2, 2003
I didn't get up until 8:00 it is dark in the morning. After cereal for breakfast we headed out to do the five viallage walk, but were only doing four villages. One village was the opposite direction. The weather looked like it might rain. We had to ask where the trail actually started.
The trail was right along the sea. The views were beautiful. The water was a beautiful dark teal and the white caps made a beautiful contrast against the rocks.
The village behind us disappeared and soon the next village, Corniglia, appears. Then it was to Vernazza. It was probably one of the larges villages. We stopped and had lunch there and topped it off with gelato.
After Vernazza it was the last section and the longest to Monterossa. I think it was the most strenuous--not that it was hard. I just had to breathe a little harder.
Monterossa is the only one that has a beach. I felt the water. It was warm, but I was too lazy to take off my boots. There were many people in the water swimming.
