spaggetti, sunsets and stracciatella

Just arrived on the shores of Croatia after a great week in Italy. A couple of highlights from the week just gone....

After arriving in an ugly port town of Livorno we had no idea where we were going and no idea how to get there. We were lucky enough to land ourselves on a bus full of friendly italians who quickly took up the task of directing us, in italian, to stay on the bus when we were about to hop off. Just when we thought we were about to end up in another industrial port city, the bus turned a corner, the sun came out and we arrived in a beautiful beach side town called San Torenzo in La Spezia. 45 euro later we scored a great room overlooking the sea - see the pic below!

After San Torenzo we met up with Jen and Forta in the stunning Cinque Terra. We spent 3 days living it up with: a 2 bedder apartment complete with balcony overlooking the town; numerous lunches and dinners out; lots of gelato; plenty of swimming, rock jumping, and walking the "Via del Amore". It was great to catch up with some friends from home and there were plenty of laughs. Certainly a taste of "la dolce vita" as the italians say - the good life!

A couple of quirks of italian life...

We decided we might bling it up on a beach in San Torenzo where you pay to lie on sunbeds at a private beach. That was until we found out it would cost $25 each for the privledge!

Italians do definitely fit their stereotype of style gurus with everyone styling it up from Nonnas (italian grandmas) through to bambinos, policeman and even the ticket collectors. Big shades, open collars and white suits are definitely in! We even managed to bump into a Miss Italia contest on the street one night (much to Gav's delight!).

The emphasis on style and all things nice definitely does not translate in the toilets! there is nothing worse than busting for the toilet, finally managing to find one, opening the door only to find.... another dirty squat toilet with no toilet paper! worst invention in the world ever!

The other thing about italy is that you don't have to go to a night club here to be hit up with cover charge... they have this lovely thing called "coperto" (translated in english as cover charge) which is charged at most restraunts and can be as much as A$5 per person. As a result we havent been leaving many xtra tips though italy!!

The last one would be the italian church bells. seem lovely and romantic at first, but when then they ring every hour, ringing 12 times for 12 o'clock etc, 24 hrs a day, it can start to get a little painfull. they even give a celebrity ring on the half hour, just to keep things interesting!! Forta was a particularly big fan, and it always made for funny breakfast conversation.



Gav walking the streets of Bologna (the home of spaggetti bolognese!)

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terra, Italy
The Forts and Peacocks doing the via del amore in 5 Terra
Fort and Gav taking the plunge in 5 Terra
Sunset drinks in Cinque Terra

Em in San Torenzo
view from our room in San Torenzo