Ole' Faithful says arrivederci to me as I leave the Lucca Train Station bound for Pisa.

On the way to Pisa I need to stop off at my daughter’s place in Florence to pick up the rest of my luggage. At the moment I’m still traipsing around with only my backpack, and since I’ll be flying home from Pisa, I’ll need all my suitcases.

I’m an expert now with trains and buses, so, upon arrival in Florence I grab a bus to Krosbie and Paolo’s apartment, and on the short walk from the bus stop to their apartment I hear a sweet sound.

Another hop, skip and a jump on a bus and train, and voilá, I’m in Pisa, Italy!

Pisa Centrale, the main Train Station

The Hotel I’m staying at is only a few hundred yards away from the Leaning Tower and located in an area called the Field of Dreams. So I jump on another bus (schlepping ALL my luggage, oy!) and am dropped off at the entrance.

The Grand Entrance to the Field of Dreams.

My first look at, well, you’ll see . . .

Before I venture out to see the sights I want to check into my hotel room and drop off my baggage. But on the way I get to quench my thirst at a local tradition.

Good ole’ Rick Steves turned me onto Pensione Helvetia, just down the street from the Tower.

Pensione Helvetia. My room is on the 4th floor.

Let’s go inside.

All right, I can’t wait. Let’s go!

And this Lady obviously didn’t trust the recent construction reinforcement.

Can she do it? NEVER underestimate the power of a woman!

Let’s check out some architectural details of the Tower.

Pretty spectacular, huh?

I’ve been spending all this time looking up that it was time to start looking down.  And when I did I saw a shocking sight. It was my flat, empty stomach! So let’s eat.

I want to look for someplace that’s off the beaten path, and while strolling and using my antenna (can you guess?) to locate something yummy, I smell myself right into this amazing wall of jasmine.

I have never seen such a full cluster of these delicate flowers.

A little further down the street my eyes nose stops me.

Cibitalia. Loosely translated means a place to feed. A place to feed ME.

The Sweetest Lady who owned this sidewalk café off the beaten path. She was SO excited to have a customer, and I was ravenously accommodating!

Homemade deliciousness. She was very proud of her pasta salad.

I'm one Happy Guy!

Let’s go take a walk and see some back roads of Pisa.

Strolling just outside the walls of the Field of Dreams (where the Leaning Tower is located) I come across a very "green" auto machine.

I really want to see a local home in the “suburbs”, and I find a real quaint one.

Just a cute little house in the suburbs of Pisa. But what caught my eye was what you'll see next.

Children. So precious.

And now it’s time to walk back to my hotel, take a little nap and then freshen up to get ready for dining late in Pisa. I’ve been totally converted and I’ll wait until around 10 o’clock tonight to enjoy my meal. Ah, the life of an Italian!

And here’s what I find.

Just down the street from where I had lunch today is a local funky designed Ristorante called The Wall. It was definitely warm enough to eat outside.

Pasta, of course. Insalata Mista after dinner. Of course. I'm a full-fledged Italian now.

Join me for a you-have-to-be-there moment at my dinner.

It’s now about 1 in the morning. I’m not ready to go bed so I start walking. And walking. And walking. All the way to the other side of Pisa, only to arrive at the most ultimately perfect scene for my final night.

I really didn't know where I'd end up. And then I found myself here. I slowly walked to the center of the bridge over the Arno River and just stared. Endlessly. I wanted to take in everything. Get lost in the moment. It was the culmination of a dream far beyond what I had ever expected. And I couldn't leave. I just couldn't leave.

I awakened early the next morning to capture my very last sounds of Italy.

This trip was the greatest gift I could have ever given myself during this part of my life. It gave me a whole new perspective of how to ease up on the rat-race of the American Dream. My observation of the Italian people is that they enjoy conversation, family, food and work to the fullest, living a balanced life.

My wife, Patty and I own Nurture My Body, an online Boutique of Organic Beauty Products. And now, our pace is a little different than it used to be. We take the time to have lunch together. We go out and enjoy our farm animals in the middle of the day.

And quite effortlessly we still get all the work done. Our customers never suffer. We keep our promises.

The difference is that now, when a harried and crazy “American” moment overtakes me, I remind myself silently, “Hey Rich, remember Italy?” Then I take a breath, relax, and think of the Arno River.

I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to allow me to share my wondrous adventure to Italy. If you missed any of the towns I visited click on Italy Adventure and change your life.

Ciao for now.

First stop, a Roman Amphitheater just off the main shopping street. Now called Piazza Anfiteatro, it has been converted into touristy shops and restaurants.

Not in Rick Steve’s Travel Book, but now in Rich Arnold’s Travel Book, a bar called Lucca Drento in the Piazza San Frediano serves FREE all-you-can-eat appetizers while you drink.

All sorts of Italian treats to go along with my vino. And my view from my seat was SO Italian.

I’m listening, watching and enjoying my peaceful meal when I finally catch a picture of a typical Italian nuance.

This is the way Italians point when showing directions. This shot is a bit early but in 2 more seconds his hand would be fully extended to show his friends which way to go. It is considered rude to use only 1 finger to point in Italy! Isn't that just fascinating? I just love finding out about this sort of thing.

Since I was alone I was all ears and able to bask in the sounds.

Time for more.

Trip number 2 found this collection of delectables on my plate.

Yes, there were a couple more trips to fill my plate. They had NO idea who they were dealing with when they put the two words FREE and FOOD together!

It was now time to see the night life in Lucca. There wasn’t a crane around so I used brute force to lift my stomach and begin a very needed walk.

You’re about to see a guy who is 2 gelatos to the wind.

Having no clue what time it is I (somehow) find my way back to my room knowing that I should probably sleep a little in preparation for my leave to Pisa.

Bright and early the next morning I stop off for some cappuccino and pastry and begin my walk out of town toward the train station.

Since I was staying at La Magnolia B&B they give their guests a coupon for a free breakfast at a local coffee shop. You get a pastry, coffee and sparkling water. Yum!

My mode of travel once again.

Such a simple way to get around. I loved my backpack and thanked my daughter a thousand times over for convincing me to leave my suitcase with her in Florence.

Nothing like the real thing instead of stamped-out fake concrete found in the states.

Authentic cobblestone. How the Italian women walk in heels is a magical mystery!

I just had to photograph the police, and I came to find out that there are 2 types of Police in Italy. The Carabinieri, military corps with police duties, and the Polizia, the State Police. Both serve and protect Italian citizens.

Carabinieri on the left and Polizia on the right.

You are NOT going to believe this.

It's early morning as I pass by the Flea Market that I showed you yesterday. Remember? Well, this scene stunned me. The market isn't open yet and the vendors DO NOT pack up their precious wares and take them home. They just cover them with tarps. Talk about trust! Only in Italy.

Headed out of town I walk along the top of Lucca’s protective wall.

As I leave the life of Lucca behind, awaiting across the street from the enormous wall above is the train to take me to my last day in Italy.

How perfect this shall be as my finale is in Pisa. Let’s find out together if the famous Tower really leans or if it is just a figment of my school book’s imagination.

Ciao for now.

]]> http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/dinner-lucca-style/feed/ 1 http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/in-love-with-my-life-in-lucca/ http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/in-love-with-my-life-in-lucca/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:15:59 +0000 Rich Arnold http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/?p=1634 Time to say arrivederci to the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre. Could I ever find somewhere else as captivating?

As I walk out of Monterosso on the way to the train station bound for Lucca I get one more glimpse of a sweet soul who sets up her lonely wares in hopes of a sale.

Such a hard and hopeful vendor prideful of today's fresh catch.

One last fresh smell of the sea and then off to a swift train ride to arrive at my next city to explore ~ Lucca (pronounced Lewkah).

It’s been quite a trip so far and you’ve probably forgotten where we’ve been. Lets’ refresh our memories.

I decide to get ready for an entirely new adventure as I step off the train in Lucca.

No clue what this town has in store except Rick Steves and my daughter, Krosbie tell me it's a must-see.

A short walk from the train station brings a treat to my eyes.

In keeping with the medieval philosophy as we saw in Florence, Lucca is a city protected by high walls.

Ready to go inside?

Nothing like the excitement of the present moment. I am SO jazzed to see what's up those stairs!

You gotta be kidding!

Can't be. No way. Who would have ever thought that my first sight inside the walls of Lucca teaches me where the dog name Fido came from!

Ah, this is more like it!

A beautiful and picturesque canal runs through town.

And what would Italy be without its fresh fruit and vegetable stands?

Just grab one of those luscious hanging onions and take a bite. Don't worry about your breath. Have your partner nibble some too.

Time for me to locate my place to stay for the night. I meander through town following directions from my travel guide which led me to . . .

Nice doors. My heart’s a poundin’.

This time I took Rick Steves' advice and made a reservation at this quaint B&B called La Magnolia when I was in Florence.

I ring the bell, the door releases and Oh My Gawd!

Uh, like, I did good, huh?! I'd be quite happy just sleeping out here.

Through the gate (at the back of the picture above), then a left turn will bring us to my front door.

Come ON. I'm feeling NO remorse having left the Italian Riviera! I'm loving every second of seeing what's next.

My room is a very cost effective (oh forget the euphemism; it’s cheap), which is exactly how I wanted it since this trip was to experience the local flavor of Italy rather than spending a lot on a room.

Small, functional, cozy and just enough for my needs.

Such a fresh looking bathroom. I can't wait to sit, um, freshen up!

My room is located on the second floor with my window looking out onto an inner courtyard. As I’m gazing outside I finally have my curiosity satisfied.

All right, put your walking shoes on because it’s time to see the city of Lucca.

A few steps outside of my B&B I see this intriguing Curio Shop.

I definitely have to go in because I’m getting withdrawals from not having bought something for my honey in hours!

At least a thousand things to entice the eye, but since I'm only carrying a backpack I have to keep my gift small. Then I found it. A pretty Spoon Holder hiding in this antique cabinet. This is exactly what I want to get Patty!

Turning left out of the store I pass by someone’s private entry to their home.

I pause for a minute and imagine my chauffeur opening the Rolls and letting me know that my espresso was waiting for me upstairs. Why not? If you can dream it, you can have it, right?

After I awake from my dream my nose points me in the next direction.

This store is a Bakery (Forno) and Grocery (Alimentari) owned and operated by the Giurlani family.

The windows look so inviting so let’s go in and meet the owners.

Just look at that smile on Mrs. Giurlani. Is she proud of her store or what?! Quite a spread. You could shop here every day for a month and never have the same thing twice.

I couldn’t possibly leave their store without having something to eat. Could you?

I have them make me a panino. Just a quick fix because I got word that there's free food during happy hour at a bar for later on tonight, so I'm saving myself.

Now here’s a rare view of something I had not seen at all during my trip.

A Movie Theater. It's daytime so apparently not open yet. I think it was rather cute that the feature was a movie with Robert De Niro and Sean Penn. To me the title should translate into "Disaster In Hollywood", but the American title is "What Just Happened."

So throughout my trip we’ve seen lots of stores but these took me by surprise.

Betty Boop and Tweety are EVERYWHERE. And I just LOVE Tweety!

Down another street and I bump into a local Flea Market.

A quick look around and this is definitely for the locals. Not a touristy kind of market.

Let’s walk around this Flea Market together.

And a little something for the kids.

And even more for the ladies. It just keeps going.

I decide to look up for a moment and am pleasantly surprised to see how intricate the architectural details of their Street Lamps are.

Definitely wouldn't find a molded poured concrete srteet lamp in Lucca! Pretty, huh?

A classy Linen Store caught my eye next.

“]

Now I thought Nurture My Body gave great Customer Service until I saw what this exclusive linen store offers their customers. An astoundingly beautiful outside sitting area to rest and refresh. (Probably very needed after seeing what the total of your bill is in this very pricey store!)

This place is right out of the movies.

I get a kick out of all the hanging meat. Gives it such a fresh home-grown ambiance.

I’m walking everywhere but many locals ride their bikes.

No matter the age or sex everyone rides their bikes to get places.

Well, after all this walking are you ready for a pick-me-up? I am.

A cute street-side café that beckons me to partake in the Italian tradition I was becoming so ingrained with ~ Espresso. Art is expressed everywhere; even in their coffee.

Now refreshed, I continue to walk and find myself in some courtyard where I have an overwhelming desire to record my perspective of my wonderful trip so I can always remember.

Daytime hours are coming to a close and it’s time to go back to my room at La Magnolia B&B, shower, get spiffed up and see what the night life of Lucca has in store for me (and you!)

Ciao for now.

Partial English, botched-up Italian, staying clutched to the bus driver’s hip, I finally make it to a hidden away secret that very, very few tourists get to see. And is it worth it? You be the judge.

Why can't Washington be like this? Look at this scene!

And doing a 180 I see Lerici’s Main Street.

Oh, shut UP, is this to live for, or what?!

It’s about 6:00 pm, and I start looking around for our Restaurant. Between passers-by and store owners I end up locating tonight’s adventure.

Tucked away down a side street is what I hope to be as Paolo told me, "Come with an empty stomach because you're going to roll out of there!" Of course, he doesn't really know how much this little guy can pack away.

Well, no one is there. The front door is locked. And I know I have to make a reservation because I’ve been told that this place sells out every night. I must remember that real Italians eat later, and since it’s only 6:15 I decide to hang around a bit.

Finally an unassuming, American-looking short blond woman walks toward the restaurant and I ask her if she knows what time it opens. Um, no go on that one. She only speaks Italian. (Dictionary time!).

Turns out she’s one of the owners and takes my name for the reservation. Dinner starts at 7:30 so I can return then.

What to do in the mean time? Let’s explore.

Going down a back alley I deliver myself onto a mouth-dropping close look at the sea.

And then get lulled into a trance gazing at these clear waters.

I walk some more and find a sidewalk café to sit for awhile and enjoy an aperitif.

And while I sitting looking out at the water, I see a very strange thing.

And then I hear a very strange (but fun) sound!

It’s getting close to dinner time and I have to make a stop at the WC before dining.

This was the only choice, and I was rather elated I decided to visit BEFORE dinner. God forbid I'd have to sit down!

I decide to eat outside rather than inside the restaurant. I am SO jazzed to find out what everyone has been talking about. I’ve never eaten at a restaurant that didn’t offer a menu.

Great looking Umbrellas and fun Director's Chairs with their name imprinted on them.

A close-up of my table setting.

I'm seated at a table for 1 by one of the servers, offered Fresh Bread, a choice of Mineral Water or Frizzante (I love Frizzante which is sparkling), and a liter of White Wine. And there's a little towelette to clean up after dinner. I have NO clue what's about to happen.

Nothing in my 56 years of life has prepared me for this next moment ~ my appetizer.

Then a man dressed differently from the other servers comes over to welcome me.

As unassuming as the short blond woman, this tall dark man is the husband and co-owner of the restaurant. And even though he speaks perfect English, I was too embarrassed to ask him what I was about to eat. So I decided, hey, it's fresh, I'm in Italy, I'm being spoiled, sit back, relax and enjoy.

When I was a little boy my mom always encouraged me to be a member of the CPC. You don’t know what that stands for? Oh, you’ve missed out. It stands for the Clean Plate Club. Which is just what I did with all those appetizers!

Then comes the pasta.

Pasta with fresh Mussels, Clams, Shrimp and who knows? SO yummy!

As I was savoring this pasta dish, I took a moment’s rest to watch the day sky give way to evening.

Just pause whatever you're doing, jump into my mind and body, and think about where we are and what we're doing. Pure bliss isn't it?

And then arrives the Main Course.

I know, I know. It's blurry. No it's not the wine. You see, by this time my stomach was sufficiently protruding that I could rest my camera on it to surreptitiously take a picture. Yup, the camera was just a little too close.

And then another dish. Unbelievable.

By this time I was cursing whatever Board of Directors created the CPC, and only barely touched the very tasty Fried Calamari, Shrimp and various other scaly things.

A light dessert.

There was only this one choice of dessert, a light Sorbet. A very wise decision on their part because anything else of substantial mass would never have slithered down as easily as sorbet!

And the finale.

Tummy picture? No. Too much wine? I'll never tell.

As you can see, Paolo was right. I rolled out of there, sideways, as a barrel down a hill. And can you imagine all that food and wine was only 35 Euro?!

The bus and train rides home to Monterosso were most welcomed. And then the walk up the hill to my apartment was a constant dialog with the froggies of how I wish I could belch as easily as they.

Tomorrow we leave the Italian Riviera to venture inland to a city that Rick Steves’ says is a must. The charming city of Lucca.

Do come back because I’m having SO much fun with you!

]]> http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/lets-dine-tonight-in-lerici-by-the-sea-in-italy/feed/ 1 http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/manarola-and-riomaggiore-the-last-of-cinque-terre/ http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/manarola-and-riomaggiore-the-last-of-cinque-terre/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:13:08 +0000 Rich Arnold http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/?p=1434 We’ve definitely gotten our exercise and it’s time to see the last two cities of Cinque Terre – heaven along the Italian Riviera. But this time, by train! Our first stop is Manarola.

I arrive at the train platform.

An easily pronounceable city, Manarola peaks out from the rock cliffs nearby.

As I walk from the train to the city I must pass through another tunnel to see what surprises Manarola has in store for me. And the very first thing I see as I exit the tunnel . . . GREEN!

Trash after my own heart. Even way out here in this remote cliffside town, Mother Nature is revered.

A sweet looking entrance to the town awaits me.

Soooo cute. A little Bistro on the right, inviting stairs that are calling me. I'm so curious as to what it looks like. C'mon, let's go.

Before I descend the stairs into the town, I pause to drink in this paradise.

Do you like? I sure do! So clean, colorful, quaint. And it's waiting for me. Ah, what a Friday I'm having.

And it gets even better.

I'm sold. No arm twisting, I'll just melt into this scene and forget about my real life. Wouldn't you?

I want one of EVERYTHING!

A much different kind of eye candy.

I have no clue if any of these taste good but the shapes and colors are so yummy.

So what happens when you have to go? You know, go.

The 2 most relieving letters in all of Europe.

One last look at Manarola.

My eyes just never tire of such a view. Do yours?

Now we’re off to the last of the 5 towns of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore . I’m itching to buy something . . . and no, it’s not food. I’m actually not hungry yet. What am I going to find for my wife in Riomaggiore?

Get your legs ready.

The Main Street of Riomaggiore. A local fresh fruit stand. Everything is built on continually inclining streets. And only public transportation allowed. See the green bus?

Tell me you wouldn't just love walking along these gorgeous little streets, picking your fresh locally grown foods, supporting your local shop keepers. It's like life from another time. I'm going to miss this.

A little further up the road I see an adorable little Doll House.

I thought, what a cute little store. I'll go take a peak inside. Turns out that everything was handmade by this sweet lady. So, I decided to buy a doll (but not for Patty). I have this cutie-pie of a 2 year old, named Taylee, who lives next door to me back home in Washington.

A very proud daughter.

Was this little girl ever proud to take a picture of all the artistic creations made by her mama's hand!

And, of course, this town too has a tunnel with wonders on the other side.

This wall has an invitation to anyone to contribute to its beauty and creativity. Another example of anonymous art in a small town with small egos. I'd say I have something to learn here.

The walk through the tunnel brings me down to the water’s edge.

I could have taken a trip on the water in one of these little dinghy's, but I had something else in mind that I haven't told you about yet.

Believe it or not it’s still early, even after having visited the two towns of Manarola and Riomaggiore. And what haven’t we done yet? Ah, that’s right. We haven’t eaten! Well, tonight we’re in for a HUGE treat.

Paolo (remember Paolo, my daughter, Krosbie’s boyfriend?), told me about this amazing restaurant to have dinner if I could ever make my way to it. Tourists don’t go there because it’s way off the beaten path and it’s located about an hour-and-a-half south of Riomaggiore along the water in a town called Lerici.

We’ll be dining at Ristorante i Pescatori, and there is no menu. Why? Because they go fishing during the day for what they will prepare and serve for dinner that night!

So you and I are about to make use of our pearls of wisdom and figure out how to get to Lerici from Riomaggiore. It’s not in Rick Steves’ book, so we can’t cheat.

Turns out there’s no direct train to Lerici, only to La Spezia. And then we have to take a local bus from La Spezia to Lerici for about an hour. Truthfully, I’m scared s—less. But hey, I’ve got you and my dictionary (and those pearls better start wising-up)!

Ready, get set, go! Trains, buses, crossed fingers, and hopefully we'll be having dinner tonight in Lerici, Italy!

Well, the train ride from Riomaggiore to La Spezia wasn’t too tough. And now, to find the right bus to Lerici. Oy!

It took me 20 minutes to figure out that what the Train Conductor was telling me was that the Bus Stop is down the stairs and across the street.

Picture this. La Spezia is a HUGE, bustling metropolitan city. We’re talkin’ 1000′s of cars and gazillions of buses. My mission, should I decide to accept it, is to find the right bus that will eventually deliver me to Lerici. Remember, Lerici is not a town frequented by tourists. (Actually, let’s not bring that up again.)

YOUR mission is to come back to enjoy what is supposed to be a multi-course extravaganza of a dinner that only locals get to enjoy. Since my stomach is totally empty, I have a very big incentive to find Ristorante i Piscatori in Lerici, Italy tonight!

See you at my table soon. Ciao for now.

]]> http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/manarola-and-riomaggiore-the-last-of-cinque-terre/feed/ 2 http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/continuing-on-to-be-captivated-by-corniglia/ http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/continuing-on-to-be-captivated-by-corniglia/#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:40:45 +0000 Rich Arnold http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/?p=1329 Ok, my buff-n-tuff legs are now taking us to Corniglia, the third of 5 towns along the Italian Riviera of Cinque Terre.

Believe it or not, the public path connecting these 5 towns weaves right past this person’s front door. Gotta love people if you’re going to live here!

Everyone who has ever walked the path from Vernazza to Corniglia has to walk up these stairs as they pass by these private home entrances. With all those people walking by every day, notice how clean it is?

Nope. No such luck. We don't go up this cool spiral stairway to Corniglia. I just really liked it so I snapped a shot!

My last view of Vernazza.

Get a grip on how far I've walked. And we've only just begun!

And back onto the open path to Corniglia.

I forgot to mention that in order to walk from town to town you must buy a pass. Every time you leave one town for another I encountered a Check Point to verify that I paid my 5 Euros to the Parks and Recreation Department.

I didn't see anyone drinking anything but water on this very hot day. Everyone in every language understood the mathematical equation: Narrow Path + No Railing = No Booze!

It’s all uphill once again. Let’s listen to who is serenading me as I try to breathe and talk at the same time. (Definitely much harder than patting your head and rubbing your tummy simultaneously.)

A little further on the splashing waves were beckoning.

Looking down into beauty. Isn't this absolutely magnificent? And can you see the tunnel near the ocean where the train punctures the mountain to travel from town to town?

And what happens when someone is coming the other way on this VERY NARROW path?

And around the corner I get my first look at Corniglia.

A distant view of Corniglia.

Pausing to capture the sites and sounds of where I am at this moment.

Getting closer.

I was never bored as I looked upon a whole new town of life.

We’re here!

Arriving In Corniglia (pronounced Cor-neel-ya)

You know me by now. What’s the FIRST thing I do when I get to a new town?

But, of course ~ formaggio, pane, noci e miele. (Translation: cheese, bread, walnuts and honey.) So I'm resting, refreshing and immersing myself in the colorful people and architecture.

I walked around a bit. A very short bit. It’s a small town. And I pondered . . . should I keep walking to the 4th town of Manarola? Well, my daughter did. In fact, she walked to all 5 towns in 1 day.

However, this guy is ready to jump on a train back home. (notice I used the word “home”. I’ve already brainwashed myself into calling Monterosso home. What a life!) Let’s spend the evening seeing the night life of Monterosso ~ dining, maybe dancing, and casually strolling. I’m going to take my time to see this gorgeous coastline since I’m spending 3 days in Monterosso.

So I begin my descent to the train station to return to Monterosso. See the train station in the distance?

A real feat for the feet.

OK, y’all, a quick hop-skip-and-a-jump on the train and I’m back at Monterosso. Let’s renew and listen to the fresh ocean air.

I walk home, shower, get gorgeous and ready myself for a night out on the town. In fact, I’m feelin’ real Italian ’cause it’s 9 pm and I’m going out to dinner! My early dinner American stomach is now officially a thing of the past. Bravo Rich, uh, Ricardo!

Someone happy to see me on the way to dinner.

Where I chose to dine tonight.

My cozy dining experience in Monterosso, called L'Alta Marea, which means The High Tides.

Come. Sit. Join me for dinner.

Following the pasta was my salad and entreé. Squisito (delicious)!

A simple elegance that satiated my appetite.

After dinner I stroll around the evening-lit walkways and, well, just wait . . . watch and listen.

Yes, yes, of course I did. Do you think I’d go back to America without saying that I danced on the Italian Riviera? Of course it took a little (maybe a lot) of persuasion from the locals in that night club to get me in there. I mean, how would you feel? I’ve just been busted with taking a video of them dancing and they used my embarrassment to coerce me in there!

I wasn’t ready to go home yet so I wandered through the tunnel and over to the other side of Monterosso only to be seduced by some evening splendor.

And so ends my day in Corniglia and evening in Monterosso.

What shall tomorrow bring? Shall I walk to Manarola the 4th town of Cinque Terre? Uh, don’t think so. Me ‘n the train are ole’ buds now.

So come back and see just how uniquely enchanting our next stop of yet another heavenly town along the Italian Riviera will be. The town of Manarola.

Patty Kerr

Founder of Nurture My Body

Rich Arnold

Just Another Pretty Face

T: 1.866.440.8137

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« Venturing On To View Vernazza

Continuing On To Be Captivated By Corniglia

We’re so glad you came back! Have you been by our Boutique lately?

Ok, my buff-n-tuff legs are now taking us to Corniglia, the third of 5 towns along the Italian Riviera of Cinque Terre.

Believe it or not, the public path connecting these 5 towns weaves right past this person’s front door. Gotta love people if you’re going to live here!

Everyone who has ever walked the path from Vernazza to Corniglia has to walk up these stairs as they pass by these private home entrances.

Nope. No such luck. We don’t go up this cool spiral stairway to Corniglia. I just really liked it so I snapped a shot!

My last view of Vernazza.

Get a grip on how far I’ve walked. And we’ve only just begun!

And back onto the open path to Corniglia.

I forgot to mention that in order to walk from town to town you must buy a pass. Every time you leave one town for another I encountered a Check Point to verify that I paid my 5 Euros to the Parks and Recreation Department.

I didn’t see anyone drinking anything but water on this very hot day. Looking at the “no railing” situation tells me why not in ANY language!

It’s all uphill once again. Let’s listen to who is serenading me as I try to breathe and talk at the same time. (Definitely much harder than patting your head and rubbing your tummy simultaneously.)

A little further on the splashing waves were beckoning.

Looking down into beauty. Isn’t this absolutely magnificent? And can you see the tunnel near the ocean where the train punctures the mountain to travel from town to town?

And what happens when someone is coming the other way on this VERY NARROW path?

And around the corner I get my first look at Corniglia.

A distant view of Corniglia.

Pausing to capture the sites and sounds of where I am at this moment.

Getting closer.

I was never bored as I looked upon a whole new town of life.

We’re here!

Arriving In Corniglia (pronounced Cor-neel-ya)

You know me by now. What’s the FIRST thing I do when I get to a new town?

But, of course ~ formaggio, pane, noci e miele. (Translation: cheese, bread, walnuts and honey.) So I’m resting, refreshing and immersing myself in the colorful people and architecture.

I walked around a bit. A very short bit. It’s a small town. And I pondered . . . should I keep walking to the 4th town of Manarola? Well, my daughter did. In fact, she walked to all 5 towns in 1 day.

However, this guy is ready to jump on a train back home. (notice I used the word “home”. I’ve already brainwashed myself into calling Monterosso home. What a life!) Let’s spend the evening seeing the night life of Monterosso ~ dining, maybe dancing, and casually strolling. I’m going to take my time to see this gorgeous coastline since I’m spending 3 days in Monterosso.

So I begin my descent to the train station to return to Monterosso. See the train station in the distance?

A real feat for the feet.

Ok, y’all, a quick hop-skip-and-a-jump on the train and I’m back to Monterosso. Let’s renew and listen to the fresh ocean air.

I must first leave my apartment and see what my quaint pathway to town holds for me in the early morn.

This little plant has the right to flaunt its tenacity this morning as it says, "No dirt, no water, but that's not gonna stop ME from grabbing for the gusto of life on this barren rock wall."

And what do I hear as I stroll downhill to town? Could it be? No!

I arrive at the bottom of my pathway, entering the town center of Monterosso, and I have no concept what day it is, until I see . . .

Such a cute little school bus. Which is when it dawned on me that this is Thursday, a school day, and "real everyday life" is going on as usual for the locals. Even though yours truly is in a most UNusual state of mind!

Just before I begin the cliffside walk from Monterosso to Vernazza (the second of 5 towns in Cinque Terre), I get caught up in Monterosso’s early morning local market. And I’m lovin’ it.

Across from the fresh foods were booths of jewelry, clothing and kitchenware. And although far away physically yet oh so near in my heart, my wife comes to mind ~ which means it’s time for another gift.

I found a beautiful pair of earrings for Patty, but it had no price on it. Something similar was near and I was hoping the price would be comparable. This beautiful woman didn't take advantage of me and quoted me the same price as the other pair. Tourist Lesson #2 was far different from Lesson #1. Her honesty and kindness just made me melt.

One last stop before I head off to Vernazza. I couldn’t resist this beautiful Church.

Ok, are you ready to start walking with me to Vernazza? Soon I’ll discover if I have legs and lungs that have been lingering too long in the lap of laziness.

This is where we begin our journey. Monterosso is at sea level. Vernazza is both at sea level and just above, with cliffside houses. But in between the two towns . . . well, you'll see.

My first glimpse of the Sea from the cliffside walk on the way to Vernazza. Spectacular.

I continue to walk along this beautiful path and see a house that enjoys a one-in-a-million location.

Just around the bend from that magnificent home are mountainside vineyards.

Farther, closer and closest views of hillsides that I feel blessed to gaze upon and blessed not to harvest!

The Home with a view we saw in the above video. Something to dream about.

The path I’m on takes turns and dips into hidden places that fill my eyes with beauty created by the long-ago partnership between Mother Earth and woman and man.

Isn't this a scene that stuns? I'm going to make it my desktop background.

I'm walking higher and higher. This is the creek that feeds that beautiful bridge.

Charming, oh so charming.

Let’s take a look at the flowers that have winked at me along the way.

Flowers of every color and fragrance.

But beauty can also be found in something that does not boast color, don’t you think?

Colorless beauty.

Turning my eyes away from the path to stare at . . .

A moment to rest my eyes on forever.

A little further and I get a distant peek at Vernazza.

I then take a 180 degree turn and see from where I came.

A look back to Monterosso.

Getting closer to Vernazza, I decide to stop and share the moment with you.

And now, a picture postcard.

I'm getting excited! And I'm thoroughly enjoying the colors of the buildings. I mean in Washington you'd never paint your house pink. But here, it works. Don't you agree?

Even closer it's hypnotizing. Notice the train tracks in the lower left corner. If we didn't walk from city to city in Cinque Terre, we could take the train through the mountain.

Let’s listen to some Italian children as we hover above Vernazza.

And the moment has come.

We have arrived in Vernazza. From this beautiful beach we venture upward to scout out the shops and houses of this alluring cliffside village.

Leaving the beach I venture out into the town.

I'm beginning to feel at home seeing the narrow streets, tall buildings and clean laundry hanging from the windows.

The Town Square.

Much smaller than Monterosso, Vernazza cuddles up to you. It didn't take long to walk through town. I think half the fun was getting here!

Mix-and-match designs; yet it flows.

I think it’s time to eat, don’t you? It’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon and I walked all the way from Monterosso on an empty stomach. (Don’t remind me.)

A half hour later I found a cute little place at the end of town called Il Pirata Caffe.

Come on in and meet the Owner/Chef.

He spoke perfect English (the man on the left) and as I asked for lunch (it was 1:30), he said (very politely), "Lunch isn't served until 3. Why don't I make you a special pastry with fresh ricotta cheese and strawberries?"

Gotta tell ya that I was really in the mood for a very large lunch, so a pastry wasn’t going to cut it, until I saw his creation.

One look and I was sold. One bite and I said, "Lunch, what's that?"

Well, with all that powdered sugar in my system, I was like a race horse out of the gate! So I roamed around town for quite awhile, and ended up back at the beach ready for a little snack.

I found a To Go stand with a great view of the ocean and ordered Bruschetta and mineral water. I felt very Italian when I correctly pronounced the food that I ordered. My memory banks flashed back to my daughter, Krosbie, who gave me a lesson that Americans pronounce it (phonetically) Broosheta, but Italians pronounce it (phonetically) Broosketta. Just another show-off moment that I enjoyed privately. (But now that you know, you can pat me on the back.)

So we come to the end of my stay in Vernazza. Short and very sweet.

But the day is not yet over. And YOU better not be tired from all that walking, because we’re about to head on over to the next town southward in Cinque Terre, called . . .

Not to worry, it’s only 2 kilometers, my belly is full, the sun is shining, and my legs are starting to look like this guy’s . . .

And I’ve got you for company. So, what more could I ask for?

See you soon. Ciao.

]]> http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/venturing-on-to-view-vernazza/feed/ 4 http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/the-italian-riviera-monterosso-by-the-sea/ http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/the-italian-riviera-monterosso-by-the-sea/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:46:06 +0000 Rich Arnold http://www.nurturemybody.com/blog/?p=954 Time to leave Siena. Destination the Italian Riviera with my first stop being Monterosso by the Sea.

I put on my backpack and decide to forgo the bus ride to take a long stroll from my Hotel to the Train Station. Seeing how life is beyond the travel books is what I’m after.

On the way to the Train Station I pass by a local Market that happens only on Wednesdays in Siena.

Siena's version of have-mall-will-travel. I'm stoked. Time to find a gift for my wife.

And are you ready for sights and sounds of a real local Italian Market?

So, here I am, can't pass up this really sweet, down-to-earth guy (well, maybe it was the 5 Euro sale sign that grabbed me!). I told him I wanted that nightgown (the one on the left of the picture) for my wife. He smiled really big and I handed him a 5 Euro bill. What a deal I thought. He said in Italian, "20 more Euro, please." Turns out the nightgowns on the right are 5 Euro, but on the left - yup, you got it. Tourist Lesson #1 now under my belt.

A short train ride later I arrive at the Italian Riviera ~ Monterosso by the Sea.

Hold your breath so it’s not taken away.

I start walking around the town looking for a place to stay because I’ve come without reservations. A risky business, I realize, but hey, I know something wonderful will happen.

I thought I could fall asleep anywhere, but this feline takes the cake.

After a long search for a room, a miracle happens.

I shed my backpack and head for the town.

Leaving my apartment I am graced with this picturesque walkway that leads from the top of the hill (where my apartment is) all the way down to the town.

This is a view of my apartment as I am descending the walkway to town. It hadn't quite dawned on me at this moment that I had to walk back UP this hill to get home. Ignorance is bliss.

The arrow is pointing to the culmination point of my walk down the hill from my apartment into another world.

And, what do I see first but . . .

It has been a full day - train ride, searching for a place to stay, walking down a huge hill - like uh, I was ready to eat that entire piece of pizza if it were real. Lucky for them this café was closed.

Different colors everywhere. Architecture that wouldn't necessarily win any awards, but gently whispered to you, "Come run away to us."

A beautiful Open Square whose trees eavesdropped on the chatter from the sidewalk cafés they shaded.

Now here is a scene that definitely comes out of a movie.

See those 2 women in the second story windows? They were flirting and teasing and throwing kisses to the man walking by. He was absolutely eating it up. It didn't matter that I didn't speak Italian. The language of love is surprisingly understandable.

I became so enthralled with this other world I walked into that only now did I remember I was hungry. Staying in the moment is just the best!

I found a cute little café to grab a quick panino and a Coke, which is something I never drink. But ah, this entire trip is about "nevers!"

It was time to see the beach, and on the way I was drawn to something quite unusual.

Isn't this ceiling captivating?! Just a little cubbyhole of a knickknack shop.

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As I kept walking toward the beach marveling at my surroundings, I was thinking I was in Heaven. How befitting what showed up next . . . a Stairway. (Some songs are always in your memory. Thank you Led Zeppelin.)

Time for a quick location explanation.

Monterosso is a small town that is located along the west coast of Italy, one of 5 towns in an area called Cinque Terre. There are 2 parts to the town, connected by a tunnel through a mountain.

My apartment is located on one side of the tunnel and we are about to see the other side of town.

Not just any ole' tunnel. Such a visual pleasure used just to roam back and forth from one side to the other of Monterosso.

Being the curious type, I wanted to see where this side tunnel led.

A side tunnel that I just had to explore. Any guesses where it leads?

The tunnel leads to a peaceful place to enjoy the sea. Oh my.

I return to the main tunnel to continue to the other side of Monterosso.

Having just exited the tunnel, I caught a coastal view of the other side of this dream world.

A leisurely walk along the entire length of this secluded coastal town brings me to the very end of the beach. It is gorgeous, no doubt. People playing, dipping their toes, swimming, sunbathing, boating. But just then my nose smelled a scent of something splendidly savory, so I slithered in.

This scrumptious place is just across the street from the beach. I feast my eyes on the homemade combo of garlic and onions. (You're probably thinking, sure, he's alone, doesn't have to worry about his breath. Well, I'll have you know that my wife would kiss me even after garlic and onions. So there!)

With food in hand I stroll back across the street and I see something perched on the edge of a cliff, something that boggled my mind.

Once again I am stunned by the magnificence of what can be created by the hand of an artist. Just look at where this is located. How was it ever accomplished?

My first day on the Italian Riviera has exceeded all my hopes. I decided to pick up some wine, cheese, olives, prosciutto and bread and spend the rest of my evening enjoying my view from my exquisite balcony.

Tomorrow we’ll get up early, see a little more of Monterosso and then you and I shall begin the famous walk along the coastal path to the second town of Cinque Terre, Vernazza.

The first shop I decided to see drew me right in because of . . .

Wipe 'em off before you come in. Are these unique, or what?!

After a quick walk-through of this shop, I have to admit the welcome mat was the only thing worth remembering!

Ah, but this next little shop is where I began to spend some money for my sweet wife who’s waiting patiently for me back in America.

Here is a shop whose wood definitely does not come from my hometown in Washington State. Called Il Casale, their products are all carved from Olive Trees.

What was so striking were the pronounced wood grain patterns of the solid olive wood. Absolutely gorgeous. And I bought a little something for my honey.

A little down the path, another eye-boggling array of enticement.

Hidden treasures await me (and you) as I am about to enter through this inviting storefront window.

I walked in and it was a race between my mouth and eyes to see which opened wider! SO many things, so beautiful, so cleanly organized and presented, in such a teeny tiny shop.

And now, meet the angel who owns this shop and does it all by herself!

The sweetest woman you'd ever want to hug. She was shy, but I could tell that she loved her picture being taken!

I’m strolling by a very long nondescript wall, when someone, hundreds of years ago, decided to break up the monotony of this wall with simple elegance.

It is so apparent that builders of long ago had art appreciation running through their veins. Italy is beginning to awaken in me a wonderful awareness of beauty so humbly offered, yet asking nothing in return.

As I continue to take in the sights, I am confounded by such amazing stack-on-top-of-each-other construction! And so many colors. Siena could never be guilty of tract housing!

My head turns right and I come across a long-distance view where something looks familiar in the distance.

I'm looking and looking, my mind is searching for some vague familiarity, and voilá, I recognize my Hotel! Ok, ok, it was exciting for me at least.

And then came fresh – and definitely home grown – fruits and veges.

Sure, this isn't one of those fancy decorated shops, but I had to memorialize this to recall how fresh and un-genetically modified these fruits and vegetables were. And look around, can't you just feel how hard the shop owner works to make a living?

And how could I pass this up?

Can you imagine trying to strike up a conversation with these guys to explain that where I live we just use asphalt to repair our streets. They'd look at me and probably say, "What's asphalt?" (as any bona fide artist should ask!)

From floor to ceiling, even in a Musical Conservatory, art astonishes.

A view that's worth getting a kinked neck over.

Now this is one of those real life shops that up until now, I’ve only seen in movies.

It’s around 8:30 at night and after all those food shops, can you guess where I’m headed?

The restaurant I chose is just down the path from my Hotel. What caught my eye was what I saw on the Menu that was posted outside. As you can see, the exterior is just an unembellished doorway. But wait until you see what's inside.

One small step for man; one giant leap for Rich’s stomach.

Can you believe this?! Oh my gosh. So quaint. And hidden beyond that nothing-to-write-home-about doorway. Ya know, it pays to take risks!

I’m greeted by Andrea who asks me if I prefer to dine outside or inside. I elected to choose a secluded table inside.

Andrea asks, “Would like a menu in English or Italian?” (I guess my Roman nose didn’t totally fake her out.)

So I figure, hey, I've been in Italy for a number of days now. I've picked up some of the local lingo, so, I'm sure I can understand an Italian menu. Oh, hell, let's tell the truth. I was just trying to show off.

And as you can plainly see in the picture above, there are 2 menus. Yup, I caved. Didn’t know what the heck I was reading and asked for the English version!

I ordered a bottle of Sparkling Water and a very nice Wine. What came next was something I had never seen in any restaurant in my entire life.

Andrea brought the wine and proceeded to roll up a very unusual piece of oval plastic (shown on the left). She couldn't translate the name in English, but it's used to prevent the wine from dripping from the edge of the bottle. It was very strange, but it definitely worked.

And here’s what I began with.

A splendid palate pleaser of Pasta with Boar Sauce.

My Entree was the item that caught my eye on the menu outside.

This is a heavenly dish of Osso Bucco, which is Veal Shank. Something I haven't had in (you guessed it) 30 years! Accompanied by sauteed Spinach and a fresh Mixed Green Salad. Aren't the platters lovely?

And for dessert . . .

I really spoiled myself tonight. My dessert was an after dinner drink of Fernet Branca. I haven't had (oh this is getting boring!)

This is my secluded corner in which I spent hours eating and drinking. A night in Siena I shall forever remember. And Andrea was such a trooper. She only laughed 10 or 12 times at all the Italian words I botched!

After dinner I only had to walk up a little pathway to my Hotel Alma Domus. You lucked out for this last picture of the night. I was way too happy to push any buttons, so I had someone else take it for me.

And domani, tomorrow, I’m taking you to see the Italian Riveria. First stop, Monterosso by the Sea.

So get a good night’s rest. I know I will.

Buona notte.

The moment has arrived and it’s one of those role-reversals. I’m the kid, and my daughter is the grown-up endeavoring to jam-pack into my confused head all there is to know about traveling on a Train to get to Siena, Italy. Here goes.

First thing is to get on Bus #23 to the Firenze Train Station. And by now, you and I are experts at traveling on a bus, aren’t we?!

This is the (imposing) Firenze Train Station. My mission (should I decide to accept it!) was to find the Biglietteria, the Ticket Office.

A typical Train Ticket. Time to brag about how such a good student I am.

1. Adulti ~ The most empowering word on the entire ticket. The Ticket Seller obviously felt that I fit into this class of humans, so I MUST be able to do this scarey train ride thing on my own! Geez, I feel like I’m 56 going on 7!
2. Data – 16.05 ~ The date of departure. Europe places the day before the month, so this example would be May 16th. Europeans use a period (.) rather than a slash (/) or dash (-) for the date.
3. Ora – 09.03 ~ The hour of departure. And by the way, for time designations, European train schedules use the 24 hour clock and they do not use the colon (9:03), they use a period and the zero (09.03), which represents 3 minutes after 9 in the a.m. If it said 17.30, that would be 5:30 p.m.
4. Partenza – Monterosso ….. Arrivo – Viareggio ~ The departure and arrival cities. Partenza means departure Arrivo means arrival. Kind of close to English. This won’t be too tough.
5. Data – 16.05 ~ The date of arrival, May 16th.
6. Ora – 10.00 ~ The hour of arrival, 10 a.m.
7. Treno 645 ~ This is the train number. I’m sure all of you out there know what Treno stands for, huh? (I’m feelin’ rather cocky now. Goodbye 7, hello again 56!)
8. Carozza 010 ~ Means Car or Coach. So, I have to look for the number 10 on the outside of one of the cars.
9. Posti 66 ~ Position 66. Posti sort of looks like position, doesn’t it? Finestrino ~ Have no clue. I figured if I could get my butt down in Seat 66 in the 10th Car, I was doing just fine! Turns out that Finestrino means window seat.
10. EUR *****8.00 ~ This particular ticket cost 8 Euros, or approximately $11.00.

An electronic Train Schedule Board where you locate your Train Number and the "Binario" or Platform where you board your train.

Uh, like uh, how am I supposed to get to my train? Something tells me that I shouldn't be braving it over the tracks.

A definite "sign" that confirmed my hunch NOT to cross the tracks. So now what? I have no idea how to ask, "How do I get across the tracks?" in Italian. Fortunately my perplexed and panicked pout encountered a man that pointed to . . .

OK guys, 30 years away from traveling has definitely taken its toll. It wasn't even in the back of my mind to even THINK ABOUT an underground passageway to get across. I'm sure even that chicken could have figured out how to get to the other side. Oh cluck!

Once underground, I remember to look for my Binario, my Platform number.

I make it to the top of the stairs, only to find myself in another quandry. Which side do I wait on? Well fortunately, Italian numbers are similar to English!! (Hey, no remarks from the peanut gallery. I need all the help I can get at this moment.)

Great looking trains. Wait 'till you see the inside.

Here are a couple of different styles of train seats. Extremely comfortable and CLEAN.

I’m finally sitting down, feeling extremely proud of myself (and relieved), and the train begins to move. A few minutes later I start looking around for a Time Stamp Machine, something similar to what was in the busses, so I can validate my ticket.

A Train Time Stamp Validation Machine. I saw them around the Train Station but was beginning to wonder where they kept them on the train.

I fumblingly engaged in an Italian conversation with the woman across from me to ask her where the time stamp machine was. Turns out that I was asking her where they kept the automobiles ~ which got me nowhere. I then decided to pull out my train ticket and frantically started jabbing at the air, endeavoring to imitate the action of putting the ticket in the time stamp machine. NOW she got it.

What ensued was absolutely terrifying, humiliating and down-right hilarious. So, here I am, thinking I’ll be thrown off the train because the Italian woman somehow got me to understand that I had to validate my ticket BEFORE I got on the train. Oy!

She then said the only thing to do now was to go see the Conductor to get it validated. Oh . . . my . . . gosh. The Conductor? You gotta be kidding. For the next 4 sweat-filled minutes I was trying to figure out that this woman was saying that I had to get up, go to the front of the train and KNOCK ON THE DOOR where the conductor sits and have him validate my ticket.

I arise, walk past scores of gawking, laughing Italians (they know where I'm headed) and fearfully knock on the door at the front of the train. God only knows what I said, but the Conductor understood, smiled and validated my ticket. I was only there for a few seconds, but I thought, WOW these guys aren't worried about being highjacked, and I'm at the front of a MOVING TRAIN. So . . . PICTURE TIME!!!

I arrive in Siena in one piece and pull out my new companion, my Travel Bible (AKA Rick Steves’ Florence & Tuscany), to figure out how to find the hotel I’ll be staying at, Hotel Alma Domus.

I wasn't really alone on this trip. Rick Steve's was with me every minute of every day. Well, except while showering.

After a bus ride from the Train Station to the center of town, I meander my way to my hotel and capture a magnificent view of Siena.

A city built on a hilltop with the familiar Bell Tower in the background.

The hotel I’m staying at is very modestly priced and is a converted Nun’s Convent. It’s called Alma Domus, recommended by my new friend, Rick (Steves).

See those stairs leading to the Hotel entrance? By the time this trip is over the muscles in my legs will rival Brad Pitt's in the movie "Troy".

The entry courtyard to the Hotel Alma Domus. Isn't this quaint? I can tell that the rest of my solo trip is going to be SUCH a treat!

I wasn't after extravagance on this trip. I wanted to experience the local culture. My room was simple, comfy, had a view of Siena and an unusual bathroom with the shower incorporated within the room itself.

Now here's an ingenius practice. In order to activate the electricity in my hotel room, I had to put this plug (which was attached to my room key) into a socket. That way, when the guest leaves the room, there is no residual electricity being wasted. VERY eco conscious, don't you think?

This hotel had an elegant Reading Room with a piano.

OK, let’s go see Siena.

All right, call me kookie, but the first thing that caught my eye wasn't some glorious sculpture or priceless painting. It was these funny vertical spikes in high places on buildings. It took me awhile to figure out that these prevented birds from nesting -- and pooping upon passing people!

One of the great attractions in Siena is Il Campo, their largest marketplace.

Imagine this huge square -- actually a circle -- whose perimeter is lined with shops and cafés, and people everywhere, chatting, shopping, sunbathing. And here is where the town Bell Tower is.

This place is HUGE yet so personally inviting. Sweeping it wouldn't be fun though.

The infamous outside café. Even more picturesque than any movie could portray.

And right in the center of the square is fresh water to refill your bottle. A wonderful free offering of Italy everywhere.

Given that Il Campo is a circular square, it is surrounded by a circular street where you casually stroll and shop, listening to a language that mesmerizes me with people who laugh a lot and talk with their hands. I was thinking if someone were handcuffed they wouldn’t be able to speak!

So, I ventured into the surrounding circular street and caught glimpse of some magnificent architecture whose ceiling was a breathtaking painting.

And now it was time to eat - one of my favorite passtimes. I followed Rick Steves’ advice and tried a small little pub called Bar Paninoteca San Paolo.

An adorable decorated little pub along the Il Campo Square with 50 different choices of sandwiches. I was determined to make THIS panino adventure something special!

Pretty cute, huh?

My tummy said yummy to this panino. I had a glass of Chianti, a view of the open square and am enjoying the moment. Just this moment.

I marveled at the creativity of the design of the local shops. Located in little nooks and crannies these shops constantly fulfilled my dream to experience the local culture.

Such artistry in presentation.

Tasty looking, aren't they?

Just the exterior design makes you want to see what's inside!

I decided get off the beaten path and saw some rather unique sights.

Not just any ole' street lamp, for sure.

It was a very hot day walking around with no shade to be had. Except for this smart little cat.

Much to my surprise I found out that most Italians do not own a dryer but make use of Mother Nature.

I was taking a sneak peek over some wall only to find someone's beautiful front garden.

The day was advancing, I got back on the main street, and found myself thirsty. No, I did not buy a cold Coke or Iced Tea. An Italian wouldn’t do THAT. A real Italian would order an . . .

I figured that it was time to begin to live by the ole' adage, "When in Rome . . ."

I thoroughly enjoyed my espresso (fighting the American program in my mind that was screaming, “It’s hot outside and I’m drinking a HOT coffee. I should be quenching my parched mouth and sweaty brow with a cold iiiiiiiiiiiiiiced teeeeeeeeeeea.” But nope. Not this born-again Italian. I’m fitting into this culture no matter WHAT!

Which brings me to my next decision to go back to my hotel room and take a nice COLD SHOWER to get ready for my evening in Siena.

Ciao for now.