Italy - Cinque Terre - 20-23 July 2013

Drove to Pisa Airport to drop off rental car, then trained to the Cinque Terre, known as the five lands.  The fishing villages are tucked away in a series of small inlets.  The landscape is so unique it was made a world heritage in 1998, under the protection of UNESCO.

On arriving at Riomaggiore the train doors would not open and with our luggage we did not make it thru the train before it continued on to Monterosso.  We waited for the next train back and just our luck an inspector got on.  Lots of yelling back and fro between us resulted in a small fine as we had not purchased another ticket.  A very steep walk up to our hotel which overlooked the village.
Due to slips the walking track started at Corniglia.  From the train station, 365 steps up to the village before we found the track to Vernazza.  We then continued onto Monterosso, very steep and rough (the hardest of the tracks) but beautiful views.  Sweat was pouring of us, 35+ degrees and the middle of the day!!!!hmmmmm
The following day we took the boat to Portovenere and then boated back past all the villages.



Riomaggiore - view from our balcony



The main street to our hotel

Riomagiore marina

365 steps up from Corniglia train station to the village

Walking the trail

Views to Vernazza

Views from the track - so high up

Monterosso

Riomaggiore from the boat

Manarola

Portovenere

The castle

Tuscany - Montepulciano & Castiglione del Lago

The highest of the Tuscan hill towns, however we spent most of our time underground in the amazing wine cellers. Known all over the world for its Nobile wine the countryside was lovely with grape vines, sunfloweres and rolling hills.
Trasimeno Lake was nice to view but on thinking we were going to have a swim in a lovely lake like back at home we were dissappointed.  Very dirty, weedy and muddy with people just standing still in it. No thanks.  A thunderstorm dampened our plans for a relaxing few hours by our pool.  Our first wet afternoon.

The oldest leather shop in Italy

The underground wine cellar

A variety of cheese

Tarasimeno lake - 4th largest lake in Italy

Tuscany - San Gimignano

Loved this town of towers.  Placed up on a hill only 14 of the original 72 towers remain. Great wee shops and restaurants.  Climbed the tower by the town hall for some stunning views and pictures.
I decided to drive (first time) from a small village where we had purchased some supplies, roughly 15 minutes away.  Just about at our turnoff and 2 policeman waved me in for what I guess was a random check.  Andy thought I was going to take them out after nearly collecting the barrier, trying to find the gears and the dam indictators on the wrong side and seeing one of them with a machine gun pointed at us.  Andy was to scared to take a photo, you just have to imagine that scene!!!!!

Tuscany - Sienna

Really enjoyed Sienna. Climbed the MangiaTower (Torre del Mangia) for amazing views over the town and of Piazza del Campo.  300 feet high and very very narrow winding steps to the top. Alot of the shops were closed as it was a Sunday, so window shopped we did. 

Piazza del Campo

Views from the top of the Mangia Tower