Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #576 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Couldn't agree more about the car! Talked to someone in our Alfa club who rented one for a day on their trip to Italy and had a blast. Restrooms, yep, they don't mess themselves up. Keep the good stuff coming and thanks again for the review and great photos. Thanks for joining us here, and for the compliments! I've never driven an exotic car like that Ferrari but imagine it would be a pleasure if you had the right roads to drive it on (that rules out Chicago streets) You can rent exotics in Las Vegas and out of the city are some great winding roads... More good stuff coming once we get off the bus. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #577 Share Posted October 30, 2015 La Spezia is where we would leave the highway and climb up over the city to access the coast road to our first destination Manarola where we would leave the bus. We wouldn't see it for a few hours when we would find it again after our visit to Monterosso and our train ride. It serves as a base for the Italian Navy and there will be a few warships in some of the shots from high above later. [/url] It looks like a pretty trim town at street level but we start our twisting climb to the heights. There's an MSC ship in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #578 Share Posted October 30, 2015 [/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #579 Share Posted October 30, 2015 We left La Spezia in our rear view mirror and were on the coast road, high above the sea. [/url] The steep hillsides are terraced-this is a wine growing region of Liguria Manarola far below We're here-the bus can go no further and we stop in a big parking lot Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyguru32 Posted October 30, 2015 #580 Share Posted October 30, 2015 The cheque is in the mail !!!!!:) I'm so broke I can't afford to pay attention but with the Master of ALL reviewers on CC by the name of Norris, I managed to sell one of my bottles of rum and my cheque is on it's way plus the 30% exchange rate and happy to do so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #581 Share Posted October 30, 2015 I'm so broke I can't afford to pay attention but with the Master of ALL reviewers on CC by the name of Norris, I managed to sell one of my bottles of rum and my cheque is on it's way plus the 30% exchange rate and happy to do so LOL-that's a great line in red! I'm glad you're enjoying the ride. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmorton3360 Posted October 30, 2015 #582 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Look forward to your posts and great pictures each morning. I'm not much of a picture taker, but yours are all I'll ever need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #583 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Look forward to your posts and great pictures each morning. I'm not much of a picture taker, but yours are all I'll ever need. More pics on the way! Norris, with thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm4730 Posted October 30, 2015 #584 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Still loving your review, Norris. We took a similar trip in 2012 and I think our excursion to Cinque Terre was the best! We often struck out on our own but this Princess excursion would have been very difficult to plan, with the bus, the boat, the walk, the train..... I am looking forward to your photos of those fabulously photogenic towns! Janet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #585 Share Posted October 30, 2015 The last picture I took as the bus was parking-you can see from the terraced hills that we are in wine country. [/url] This next one will give you an idea of how high we are- looking down from where the bus parked to a car park below which is still above the town. This is NOT a tour for anyone who uses a wheelchair or walker or a cane. To get down to town level we had a flight of zigzagging stone steps to negotiate first before a long downhill walk on the steep streets. Luckily we were the first coach to arrive so there weren't crowds to negotiate at this point. We begin the long descent which soon strings out our group Pedestrian area where only delivery trucks are allowed in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #586 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Still loving your review, Norris. We took a similar trip in 2012 and I think our excursion to Cinque Terre was the best! We often struck out on our own but this Princess excursion would have been very difficult to plan, with the bus, the boat, the walk, the train..... I am looking forward to your photos of those fabulously photogenic towns! Janet Janet- hang on to your hat....the pics are here! Glad to have you following. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #587 Share Posted October 30, 2015 We come to the town square at the top of the town before it gets really narrow. There's a church and a chance to stop and rest for a minute. [/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #588 Share Posted October 30, 2015 [/url] Back outside. Walking downhill. There's a vineyard on the hill above. I see people with hoods up-it may have softly drizzled which is fine by me or it might have just been too cool for them. Until we got down to the sea I was loving the temperature. Blazing sun I didn't need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #589 Share Posted October 30, 2015 [/url] Just getting some local flavor. There's more to a place than the monuments or scenic views. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #590 Share Posted October 30, 2015 We are big Rick Steves fans and have followed in his footsteps many times From him we first learned about the delights of Cinque Terre and I am sure we are not alone. It's possible some Italians aren't big fans. Once quiet towns are now overrun by coachloads of people like us. We help some of the local shops but are in the way of the average citizen who misses their quiet village and just wants to pop out to buy some carrots or fish or walk her baby in the pram. One such lady with a cart wasn't going to let a crowd of tourists stop her walking up the hill and with a "scusi" forged on ahead, parting the swarm. I fully understand. Let's all be mindful of the people who have to live in these tourist places. [/url] I like to peek into shops A street we have just walked down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmorton3360 Posted October 30, 2015 #591 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Had to upload the picture of the stairs to my album. So beautiful. Enjoying after spending time cleaning leaves from gutters and grass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #592 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Had to upload the picture of the stairs to my album. So beautiful. Enjoying after spending time cleaning leaves from gutters and grass. I walked past the stairs then thought "wait a minute" and went back. Glad you like it. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtagphillycruiser Posted October 30, 2015 #593 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Beautiful pictures. I too love to take shots of the back alleys; windows & flower boxes. This installment is so excellent. Joanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #594 Share Posted October 30, 2015 [/url] Beautiful fountain on a flight of steps Here on the map you see the 5 towns laid out- Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. We only get to visit two during our excursion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #595 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Beautiful pictures. I too love to take shots of the back alleys; windows & flower boxes. This installment is so excellent. Joanne Back alleys and side streets rock! This town was full of window boxes and laundry hanging to dry...which says Italy to me right there. We are down by the water now so some good photos up ahead... Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #596 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Another pretty, colorful shop [/url] Carol's camera sees a cat grooming itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyridgearts Posted October 30, 2015 #597 Share Posted October 30, 2015 I walked past the stairs then thought "wait a minute" and went back. Glad you like it. Norris an especially romantic capture....love all the street scenes too...oh and the vinyards, vistas, ports....ok....just love it all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #598 Share Posted October 30, 2015 an especially romantic capture....love all the street scenes too...oh and the vinyards, vistas, ports....ok....just love it all.... Hopefully you like rocks and sea too... Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted October 30, 2015 Author #599 Share Posted October 30, 2015 We have reached the end of the town. At this point we have a choice: we have a 30 minute break during which we can go shopping or follow the guide out onto that promontory you see at right. We decided to go shopping- for coffee!! [/url] As we gathered in a group on the quayside I noticed a cafe (that pink building) and so our plan was to go there. There was no one sitting outside when we had passed a moment ago. Yep-all the seats were empty so we had our pick and made our choice. A friendly waitress approached and we ordered two double espressos. That done Carol went in to use the bathroom, while I sat quivering with anticipation at the thought of an espresso doppio, a clean ashtray (portacenere) and a cigarette. During the time it took for the coffee to come and the return of Carol (Mission accomplished) there were now 14 people seated and a line for the bathroom. It would remain this way for the duration. Oh man!! Fist bumps as we tasted the coffee (4E for a double). Now I'm happy! I'm people watching down by the harbor. It's overcast but warm enough-just nice. A Chinese couple try to barge their way past the restroom line and a waitress from inside comes out and tells them in English-this is Italy, you wait your turn!! The couple were angry at being foiled and were loud and making gestures of an unseemly kind, but she sent them packing. Nice one! Someone nearby, an American gentleman (boy will this sound familiar) within whose veins ran the DNA of not only Albert Einstein but also Steven Hawking was heard to complain about the number of toilets in this cafe, which was about the size of a normal Starbucks in a small town. And I quote "they should build at least 3 toilets out here on this patio"....I guess the tables aren't earning their keep...no wait a minute, I just ordered "same again" for a total of 16 Euro in a 30 minute span. I think that would yield more to the owner of this tiny cafe than the toilet would. How much is one willing to pay to use a toilet versus a free one that involves a wait? Bladder management is something we learn as kids. If you're "bursting", see the line and turn around and find another cafe or offer a couple of bucks to whoever's at the front of the line. We enjoyed our sit-down and our coffee more than you'll ever know. Here's the amazing young waitress who served a swarm of people without ever losing her big smile and doing so in 3 languages -Italian (to us) English and French to the couple beside us in blue. This is the scope of the terrace in the photo-without the 3 new bathrooms. At the end of our time the next event would be the arrival of the boat that was going to take us to Monterosso... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyawayca Posted October 30, 2015 #600 Share Posted October 30, 2015 I've been taking my time, reading your posts and immersing myself in your photos for almost a week now. I am finally caught up and ready to make myself known. Sure, I could have caught up faster but I kept having to stop, find my husband, and show him a photo about every 5 minutes :D I'm so happy I swung by the Princess CC forum. Thanks for taking the time to post this amazing review and I look forward to continuing along with you through the rest of your photo journey :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now