Makes me cry…

 

How awful!!!!  My last post, I talked about the beautiful Cinque Terre—little did I know the area had been hit by flash floods and mudslides the day before.   My sister and I had lunch in this piazza---see the before and after pictures below.  Nine people lost their lives and they still have missing--

 

Cinque Terre

My poor sister—the very next day after she arrived, we headed off to Cinque Terre—see the little town below---we walked down to that town—via steps!  The next day our legs were like jelly—and sore—especially since I live on the fourth floor with no elevator.  Yikes!!!
Cinque Terre is called the Italian Riviera by some—it is so beautiful (I do use beautiful a lot).  The blue clear water, little towns, and fishing boats----ahhhhhhh!!  I am going to get back there—whoever is visiting me next if you want to visit Cinque Terre start doing squats now—or you will have jelly legs for about a week---and in Italy your legs are so important because you walk and walk and walk!
Cinque (five) Terre consist of 5 towns along the coast with a path that connects them.   So when you visit, you start on one end and walk to the last town.   We stopped along the way and had a very lovely lunch by the water.  
So who wants to go…I am at your disposal!! 

The outer islands of Venice.

 

When my sister visited about a month ago, we had a chance to visit Venice, Burano, and Murano.   Murano is famous for hand-blown glass---which is incredible, but expensive.  However, my favorite island was Burano, famous for lacemaking.  The town is small and beautiful. Pastel houses of pink, blue, and yellow. The first three photos are of Burano.   The last photos are of an island we passed on our way back to Venice.  This is the cemetery island where Venice buries the dead. 

If you ever get a chance to visit Venice---make sure you take a day and visit the outer islands—but please skip the cemetery island!   Ciao

Last night…

 

Yesterday I spent the day doing homework with a classmate.   We decided to go for dinner around 8 pm, but could not get a table at the restaurant until 9—so we wandered over to the Piazza della Signoiria.  What a wonderful surprise--an event taking place with dancers and lights.  There were gargoyles climbing up the walls of the Palazzo Vecchio—just incredible!!   After the show, we made our reservation at Trattoria Anita’s and had a big plate of pasta!!! 

My sister and I visited Montepulciano, a hill town in Tuscany!

I cannot believe I haven't written on my blog for over a month!!  Yikes!! 
School has gotten really busy, sorry for the lapse, but I hope to post more on a regular basis.
When my sister visited, we spent one of her first days visiting three hill towns—tasting wine, cheese, and gelato.  We had a great time.  Montepulciano was the first town on the route.  The town is really tough to describe—maybe breathtaking!!  So beautiful. 
Our day started with wine tasting and ended with wine tasting in Montalcino—it was a fantastic day and visit with my sister---how much could you ask for…..well maybe a sighting of George Clooney…..but alas we never spotted him…but I am still looking…