Italy 2010 - A Trip in Review

We’re back home!

So how was my trip?  Completely normal question to ask someone when they come back from vacation, and the standard responses go along the lines of:

• It was great!
• We had a wonderful time!
• Loved it!

Fine, but then what I consider to be a challenging follow-up question to answer when bumping into someone in the elevator: What did you do? Seriously how does one answer that question! I usually just say: Everything.  What are they expecting me to say? Snorkelling? Mountain climbing? Deep-sea fishing? Underwater basket weaving?

So- for you- I answer the question in detail. I won’t include too many pictures here, you’ll have to go to Picasa for those!

Milan

This was our 3rd time in Milan, so we had no great plans other then wandering around the Centre of the city, eating at the Galleria of course, and watching the world go by. 

I hate to say it but there is a noticeably larger amount of people who STINK in Milan.  I don’t quite get why…  it’s not hotter then other places in Italy but it would seem that many Milanese men don’t think washing matters.  We not only noticed it this time, but the last time we were in Milan too.  Go figure!

My husband was very impressed with the Duomo interior, more so then previous visits and I got 3 meals at the Galleria yeah!

I also on a few occasion snatched the camera away from my husband in order to capture some more unusual pictures then the ones he would normally go for (i.e.: tighter close ups of the architecture instead of perfectly framed long shots). 

What do you think?

Duomo:

Galleria:

 

Monza – Grand Prix

INFINITELY better then previous time. Nice weather and better seats make ALL the difference!

 

Lake Como – Varenna & Bellagio

CRAWLING with Americans.  SWAMPED! Not that I have anything against American Tourists, honestly! But it’s a cliché for a reason. Baseball caps, socks pulled up, tennis shoes, and LOUD! The women blend in better then the men, the men might as well carry flags.

The part I don’t like is that it kind of bursts the “being far from home” bubble I like to be in. When surrounded by a mix of international tourists, I really feel like I am on vacation but hearing the American accent pulls me back into real life and I go on vacation precisely to escape real life!

Bellagio is said to be “The Pearl” of Lake Como… I don’t get it. All it is is shopping!!!! Yes, beautiful views, GORGEOUS views, BREATHTAKING views and being on the lake is WONDERFUL!!!  but after lunch and a stroll, if you don’t want to go shopping, you are done for the day! I think Como is the Pearl of Lake Como, so much more to see and do in Como compared to Bellagio… but we had a WONDERFUL lunch by the lake in Bellagio and it’s definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

 

Who would not enjoy lunch with a view like this!!! I took this picture from where I was sitting, you can see the same flowers in both shots.

Genoa

SO HOT! but nice because it was big and there was a lot to see.  It did remind me a bit of Marseille (which I hated) to quote by guidebook: It’s more reminiscent of a Moroccan medina then a romantic Venetian cityscape, but I liked it better then Marseille by far! Lots to see and do and the maze of caruggi (narrow lanes and twisting streets) were fun to explore and a God send for escaping the heat.

We missed the fact that there were not many touristy places to eat. I know that this contradicts previous statements I have made about food and restaurants, but we would have enjoyed a nice terrace in the town centre to sit and have drinks and a light meal where it does not have to be good, but it just LOOKS good and you FEEL good being there.

Great city to explore

Santa Margherita

Not much to say other then it’s gorgeous. We took a nice stroll along the lakefront.

Portofino

Ah Portofino! How your undeserved reputation precedes you.

Why undeserved? Because it’s blown WAY out of proportion.

What impressions do you conjure up in your mind when you think of Portofino? Jet Set? Luxury? Glamour? Refinement? I think that’s all too much.

It was quaint, beautiful, PACKED with tourists and mostly shopping. Like Bellagio, I think that the places have been ruined by their reputation and no longer deserve the caché created by that reputation because “it” no longer exists; because they are such sought after destinations, the merchants follow and then the whole place takes on almost a “kitschy” feel.

That having been said, it IS FANTASTICALLY beautiful. Not all that much to do if you don’t want to shop.  Hike up to the Church & Castle & Lighthouse for great sweeping views of the harbour…  stroll…

We had the loungiest and most expensive lunch of our trip in Portofino (I think I may have been scammed – but that’s a story for another day)

 

Rapallo

We’ve been to Rapallo before on the tour in 2003 and I thought it was just ok (and by that I mean: gorgeous but once is enough) however my husband remembered it as out of this world so we went back.

Sestri Levante

Staying in Sestri was a recommendation from my travel agent instead of staying in Cinque Terre.  Great idea! It was a lovely town. Not much to do if you don’t like the beach, but for a home base it’s wonderful. We were very happy.

 

Cinque Terre

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore

Don’t get me wrong it’s GORGEOUS! but I think heading in the same direction as Bellagio and Portofino.

We saw all 5 towns over 3 days, sandwiched between other activities.  It was overcast and even the occasional drops of rain but we were THRILLED because it was hot and we needed a respite from the heat.  I think if we would have had blue skies and sunshine we would not have done half as much, including the hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola (known as Via dell’Amore) and onwards to Corniglia.

Again, I am not into shopping so it cuts down a little on the “Things to Do” but we enjoyed strolling, people watching, eating, taking loads of pictures and like Bellagio, navigating streets full of American Tourists (I suspect Rick Steves has something to do with this, I saw his guides A LOT when in C.T.)

Falling in Manarola and busting up my knee wasn’t so fun! But then again it’s turned into a vacation tradition at this point!

What can beat this view?

 

Pisa

Ah! what fun!!!  We’ve been to Pisa before, again on that trip in 2003 but that was just a short zip through the city, glimpse at the sights and drive on.  This time, we climbed the tower!! FUN FUN FUN. I don’t want to say too much because I want to save the stories for a separate entry but suffice it to say I highly recommend the experience! Again, overcast skies with a few welcomed drops of rain to cut the heat so we were very happy!

Siena

Brown. 

Interestingly in Siena, there is no more plaster on the buildings and all the brick is exposed – the entire town is brick coloured! Neat at first but BLAH after 3 days!!  Beautiful city to visit, GREAT main square “Campo”, lots to explore… and the FOOD! OHHHHHHHHH baby the food! tremendous! (but not in the Campo).

Had an OUT OF THIS WORLD lunch here:

We were going to climb the tower, but I chickened out. Too many warnings!!!  Do not climb if you have diabetes, vertigo, claustrophobia, GIDDINESS (I think it’s a bad translation… but of what?) My husband instead of being understanding was a total jerk about it. He is still making fun of me.  This drama will linger.

San Gimignano

We hesitated between going on our own vs. on a guided tour.  We decided on a tour and the company we selected would pick us up at the hotel, take us on a tour of San Gimignano and then to a vineyard for wine tasting.

As it happens we were the only ones who signed up so it turned into a private tour! How lucky!

So happy we did it that way because San Gimignano is up there with Bellagio, Portofino and Cinque Terre. Beautiful, packed with tourist, not much to do if you don’t like to shop…  enough said.  On this tour, we had about an hour and a half of free time in San Gimignano – PLENTY!

Bologna

Terrific! I would definitely recommend Bologna to someone looking for a stop for a few days. I liked the energy in the air in Bologna, perhaps because it was a university town it made it feel more vibrant? Can’t pin-point it.  My husband LOVED it. LOOOOOOOVED it! His head was on a swivel taking pictures of everything! It’s not as big as some other cities we visited, but it had a lot to offer.

We especially liked that virtually all the streets were lined with Porticoes and Colonnaded walkways to shelter us from the sun. Fantastic! Sightseeing with no stickiness! Perfect!

And did you know that Bologna has a leaning tower too? Two as a matter of fact! This one leans more then 3 meters!

Rimini & San Marino

To get to San Marino, you have to take a bus from Rimini.  That part of the excursion I will save for another day, but because we were in Rimini we stopped for a drink. Nice. Meh, whatever.  Now I can say “been there done that”.

San Marino is the real draw.

San Marino ranks in my opinion along with Bellagio, Portofino, Cinque Terre and San Gimignano but (as with all those places) is still worth seeing. If for no other reason then the views from above.

Who cares if the food was so-so, look at the VIEWS!

 

And so there you have it! Our trip to Italy!  Now I have to go work on the photo album.

 

Stay tuned!