Post by Kim on Feb 9, 2002 12:22:56 GMT -5
09 February
Le Spezia, Italy
Hello one and all,
This weather is so fabulous I am going to hate like the dickens to head anywhere back 'north'! The bluest skies, a nice breeze, about 65 or so. Wonderful for walking and sitting both.
Have spent the past couple of days exploring this area. Any of you who have seen any of Rick Steves shows on Italy have seen this. He features it prominently and now I know why. These are five very small villages, in a row more or less, that run along part of the northwest coast of Italy. They all 'hang' on the cliffs, literally! In years past there was nothing more than a 'mule' path that connected them....it is still there and runs in some places very close to the sea, but in most along the crest or near to the top of the cliffs. More on this later. Nowadays the railroad connects them. It is quite a ride, mostly just tunnels with occasional pop outs at the towns. So you ride along in darkness, then suddenly burst out into the most beautiful sea views you could imagine! Then back into the tunnel till the next town. I don't think any of them are more than a mile or so apart. They each are truely like a step back in time and a true reflection of how life in the rural sea areas used to be/still is in some places. Only one of them allows cars in the town, and I frankly don't see how they could drive down there even if they were allowed. VERY steep and narrow streets that twist and turn down the cliffs. At the harborside of 4 of them (one is high up on the cliff and has no direct sea access) there are piles of small boats, mostly white and blue. Just so damn scenic! The houses are a jumble of shapes and colors, with laundry hanging everywhere and just as many people hanging out the windows as well. In the first town to the south it looks for all the world like the houses all slid down the ravine on top of each other, they nearly seem stacked one upon the other. The sea has been smooth as glass and the most beautiful blue green color. On the days I was there there were fishermen out in their tiny boats, skimming along. A picture postcard sight indeed.
Con't in next post...
Le Spezia, Italy
Hello one and all,
This weather is so fabulous I am going to hate like the dickens to head anywhere back 'north'! The bluest skies, a nice breeze, about 65 or so. Wonderful for walking and sitting both.
Have spent the past couple of days exploring this area. Any of you who have seen any of Rick Steves shows on Italy have seen this. He features it prominently and now I know why. These are five very small villages, in a row more or less, that run along part of the northwest coast of Italy. They all 'hang' on the cliffs, literally! In years past there was nothing more than a 'mule' path that connected them....it is still there and runs in some places very close to the sea, but in most along the crest or near to the top of the cliffs. More on this later. Nowadays the railroad connects them. It is quite a ride, mostly just tunnels with occasional pop outs at the towns. So you ride along in darkness, then suddenly burst out into the most beautiful sea views you could imagine! Then back into the tunnel till the next town. I don't think any of them are more than a mile or so apart. They each are truely like a step back in time and a true reflection of how life in the rural sea areas used to be/still is in some places. Only one of them allows cars in the town, and I frankly don't see how they could drive down there even if they were allowed. VERY steep and narrow streets that twist and turn down the cliffs. At the harborside of 4 of them (one is high up on the cliff and has no direct sea access) there are piles of small boats, mostly white and blue. Just so damn scenic! The houses are a jumble of shapes and colors, with laundry hanging everywhere and just as many people hanging out the windows as well. In the first town to the south it looks for all the world like the houses all slid down the ravine on top of each other, they nearly seem stacked one upon the other. The sea has been smooth as glass and the most beautiful blue green color. On the days I was there there were fishermen out in their tiny boats, skimming along. A picture postcard sight indeed.
Con't in next post...