Hello all!!! Been busy on the road so it's been a while, not to mention finding time on the internet. Where do we start? WELL...Marseille was good fun. We saw the Chateau d'if (being Count of Monte Cristo fans) but couldn't stop off due to rough weather but we managed to get to a neighbouring island, l'ile Frioul where there was an old fort area and crystal clear water. The sea was very salty and L was very happy because she 'never floated so well in her life!'. Lovely Anne laure lent us her appartment so we were able to cook some pretty delish meals with fresh salmon, merguez (spicy, yummy sausages) and plenty of nutella for breakfast!!! L also ate her first chocolate croissant for the trip!
From Marseille we jumped on a train to Genoa and eventually the coastal national park of Cinque Terre. The train ride took a whole day but the landscape was so amazing. We stopped in Nice and went through Monaco all along the coast seeing all the beautiful beaches and mountains. Cinque Terre is made up of 5 small villages. The houses are all tucked into cliffs and rocks surrounded by man made terraces of vineyards strecthing up the steep hills. We stayed in a hostel at Manarola. We walked to each of the villages on the first day, went up to the terraces the next day and hiked to Porto Venere, more to the south, coming back by ferry. We did SOOOO much walking and now our legs are in much pain! The walks themselves are not long but it can take up to 5 hours just to walk 10km because of the steep hills and terraces. It was also really hot, sweating non stop, but we were able to cool down in the sea on these things they call 'beaches'...more like rocks, concrete, black sand and cigarette butts. We mainly ate at the hostel, feeding on pizza, pasta and locally made pesto (veggie patches are quite an art up there)! The one night we did go out we quickly learnt the italian way where they charge for bread and water!!! But the fish (freshly caught) and desert were lovely. We also began our quest to find the best gelati, finding a little store where you could get 4 scoops for 2.50 euro!!! BARGAIN! Unfotunately we didn't get to go snorkelling (it's apparently really beautiful underwater) because of rough seas (again), we don't seem to have much luck with stormy weather!
Now we are in Rome, still walking lots and enjoying the warm weather. We started with the Colloseum, Palatine ane Roman Forums. Moved on to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Stairs. But we still have plenty of museums to visit and gelati to eat. Last night we went to a piano concert in the open air (next to the ruined theatre). Afterwatrds we continued on our quest for gelati. We found a great shop where they have plenty of different flavours (fig/almonds/ricotta, dark choc and orange, vanilla and pine nuts just to name a few). It was twice the price compared to our little lady in 5 terre but (it's a big call) we may have found the best gelati ever!!!!!!!!!
We are here until Thursday before we make our way down to Greece, starting with Corfu island.
Hope you are all well and not too cold!
Love from L & A
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