From Italy into the South of France ~ The Sweet Life ~

We bade our goodbyes and boarded the train enroute to the South of France and the French Riviera.

My wish was to return to Antibes and stay there for a while to get to know
the town and live life there... Well... we were able to stay five days and lounge around and really explore!
Our mode of transportation was basically par pied~ We wandered and wandered about and made wonderful discoveries about this little town.

I always gravitate to the 'OLD TOWN' and feel the ambience of the culture there. There is a charm in the old town as you stroll down the streets which are mostly pedisterian walkways. There is a fantastic port on the edge of town where hob nobbers moore their multi-million Euro yachts as they enjoy the good life at local restaurants and clubs before they lift anchor and head on down the coast.
One of the wonderful things about Antibes is that there is a most wonderful market filled with wonderful foods,cheeses, and vegetables, as well as soaps and antiques. I imagined myself shopping for the daily needs for meals and stocking the kitchen for our stay here.
If one would want to make Antibes a home base, you should secure your apartment or home early for best selection. We ended up staying at a local hotel in the old town which served us well for the time we stayed.
The weather was wonderfully warm and balmy. We were able to enjoy the stretches of beach and swim in the silky water.
Our hikes were lengthy and included city streets as well into the beautiful hills surrounding the coast, Cap D' Antibes.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa ~

Pizza ~ Pisa

Pisa is just an hour train ride from Florence.
This trip was our third visit to this interesting city.
We previously had driven into the city of Pisa, just muddling around and with luck found the walled in old town.
On this visit we arrived by train, walking through the city and walked to our hotel near the torre or tower. After setteling into the hotel we walked a bit further up the street to the piazza. Steve had me walk the last few steps with my eyes closed and as I entered the piazza, he told me to 'look'. I opened my eyes and there she stood at her charming, promising angle!!

Just receintly sandblasted, she shone brilliantly against the blue sky.
The piazza has an 'Old World Charm' in that the buildings surrounding the Church, Baptistry and Tower are rustic in color and charm. The vendors take away from the antique feel somewhat by blocking the buildings in the far court, but it still feels as if it were hundreds of years ago.
We spent the day sitting on the lawn and people watching as well as snapping hundreds of pictures of you guessed it, the tower. How many pictures can one take of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in one day ?? 250 ??
~ Oh, to be a traveler of miles ~ A visitor to this place read about only in books ~ To sit on the green grass and drink in the history and the beauty the artichect worked so hard to achieve ~ Glorious to the eyes, splendid to the heart, lovely to the soul ~
This time we climbed to the top! It was amazing to step over the threshold of the portal onto the base of the Tower of Pisa ~
Immediately you could feel the pull of the angle that the tower leans. You felt off balance as you began the ascent of the 200 plus steps that rose circurally around the center of the building. Half way up you were directed outside and along the railing for a divine view. As you were climbing on the high side you could litterally feel the angle and pull of the gravity.It was the oddest feeling!
As we neared the top we realised that there was a bell tower at the top. Futher up at the uppermost top was a platform for a view point which gave the most exhillerating feeling!
Capucchino the next morning in the cafe sitting in front of the splendid Leaning Tower~ Brilliant!!

Our Bella Vernazza~

Our Bella Vernazza~ Before the Devistating Flooding~

A few views of bella Vernazza before the disasterous flood~
Arriving at the train station at the top of the town brought an exhillirating feeling as we returned for the 5th time to feel the relaxing belonging to her piazza~
We entered along with the throngs of tourists who have discovered this beautiful part of Italy.
Usually we would have been greeted by a citizen of the town and led to a room or camera, that is rented out, usually many available. This time we were not. We made our way down to the piazza hopeing that our dreams would not be dashed. We found da Martina B&B in the corner of the Piazza and found residence. This is the second time we have been blessed with harbor and piazza views, where everyone gathers and enjoyes the ambiance of the town.
There are several restaurants that face the harbor and throngs of visitors gravitate to watch the sun sink into the Mediteranean, applausing at it's last beam is swallowed up.
I basked on the beach and watched the children play in the sand beyond the wall of the piazza, small fishing boats bobbing teathered to their bouys in the harbor.
We licked gelato and walked along the waterbreak and climbed her stairs to the top of the hill for a glorious view of the tops of the town~ The weather perfect,rather summery~ so happy to be back.
That was just three weeks before the devistation.
Now I cannot believe what the town is going through. Not only the dammage, but the loss of town's people.
Always welcoming and tollerant of the throng of guests engulfing their town, the people of Vernazza have great hearts and a grand vision. They have lost much, as most buildings along the main avenue were drowned completely up to the second floor. They are digging out.

The Devastating Flood in Cinque Terre'

As posted, October 3rd, we reposed in the beautiful Cinque Terre'. We enjoyed three days in this most beautiful place. Vernazza is our town.
On October 26 , the reigon waas bombarded with heavy rain and massive flooding,turning our dear fishing village into a massive mud slide from it's vineyards upon the mountains and hills surrounding, down thorugh the street decending to the harbor, a mighty river flooding up to the top of the train station platform, bringing dirt, rubble as well as cars through the village and out to the water's edge and into the harbor, filling it full of debris.
I sat horrified watching video clips and with tear filled eyes as our village was devistated, my heart is broken for the community.
I present this video to you in hopes that you might help.
We stayed with Guiseppi at the B&B in the piazza by the harbor. I will post the e-mail address for Martina and her family shortly.

Cinque Terre Flood-Vernazza

Every Day is Laundry Day ~ Somewhere

Manarola