Italy - Pisa and Cinque Terre

Hello from Italy! It's been a whirlwind week since I left Pittsburgh with seven friends, bound for Rome. The trip was grueling, but we finally landed in Rome, and after several hours of standing in security lines and customs lines, we took off for Pisa where we were picked up by a driver to take us to....

the Leaning Tower of Pisa! We spent some time with a tour guide there, learning more about the buildings on the Piazza Dei Miracoli.

The cathedral was impressive, as all European cathedrals are, with soaring columns, and gorgeous mosaics, sculptures, and paintings. The ceiling was covered in 24 carat gold!

Then it was time to head to our next destination, Cinque Terre. It was wonderful having a driver, so we didn't all have to schlep our heavy luggage on and off trains and up and down steep flights of stairs.

Here's our adorable B&B in Manarola, which would be our home for three nights....

Affittacamere San Giorgio

Cinque Terre is a place of indescribable beauty. You really have to experience walking those almost-vertical streets to even begin to understand what it must be like to live here. The people are all fit and trim - they're used to hiking the hills and climbing the seemingly endless steps that lead from the lower part of town into the upper streets.

Our first day there, we explored Manarola and spent some time sketching, then took an afternoon ferry boat ride up the coast to see the five villages from the water.

Here's a view of Manarola from the water...

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Il Casello in Monterosso, overlooking the beach and the Ligurian Sea.

Cindy, Candy, Judy, Teresa, Katie, Carol, Cathy, Jan, and Linda

 After dinner, we strolled along the water....

and walked through town where restaurants and shops were filled with people enjoying the warm evening.

Time to run down and have breakfast now, then head for Certaldo. I'll catch up with you later and share more pictures from the trip so far.