florence - ciao - we are up and out of there shortly after 8am
next stop - la spezia - a city on the north-western coast of italy
it's main attraction being the proximity to popular cinque terre
and on the way there's a stop at another very popular town - pisa
so of course the leaning tower has to be visited for the first time
first impression - wow - it really does have a serious lean on
and very picturesque - clean white tower, green lawns, blue skies
the cameras are clicking as we join the other tourists ticking boxes
there are 2 other large buildings - church-esque - on the same site
so time is taken to circumnavigate those and admire their features
incredibly detailed adornment in the shape of laced stonework
and a circle of statues (apostles?) high up on one building
but ouch - it is hot - the whinging americans are not coping
inside the basilica would be cooler but queuing for a ticket?
na - we're keen to get to the coast so we mount up and head off
la spezia is punched into google maps and we follow instructions
but once again we are often confounded by it's chosen direction
in a couple of cases requiring back-tracking to get back on track
but with that we see more of rural north-west italy than planned
hills, tunnels, small settlements, rivers and bush are all seen
a comment that the vista is not unlike parts of nz south island
but more people here too so more towns, roads and travellers
we cruise into la spezia and are surprised at the size of the city
a huge port with an array of all sorts of vessels currently moored
most impressive - the harmony of the seas - a monster cruise ship
actually the largest cruise ship in the world and recently launched
it sits centre of the port and naturally dwarfs every other ship there
we are early for our check-in so we drive north from town - and up
and up - a winding road that offers spectacular views of the town
we push on to the next coastal town and drive down a steep road
riomaggiore is the first town of the cinque terre strip of towns
and full up - no parking anywhere so we back up and head back
stopping at a small roadside cafe way up with views and food
soon back at la spazia we check in to our 3rd floor apartment
the building on a back-street - alas no wifi - and a power cut
we decide to head out for the evening and walk to the port
ending up at the stinkboat marina - whoa - big heavy stuff
unbelievably large and expensive looking cruisers moored
we are temped to try a dockside restaurant but no luck there
too crowded, too late or too boring is the order of the night here
on the way back to town we re-visit a queue seen on the way out
people are waiting to order fresh cooked seafood from a restaurant
we join them, wait 20 minutes or so then enjoy their fine offerings
a wander back to home base through a quietly buzzing town centre
la spezia - we think we like you - less celebrous, more realworld...
