Travels with Jean

Every journey starts with a single step

[jeanhm]

INNSBRUCK

A bit of an eventful journey from Verona to Innsbruck mainly due to severe delays on the line north of Innsbruck but our train which had come from Venice was an hour late so it was good that the hotel was close the station and very nice it is too! (Central Hotel).

First thing was to find food as another snag was that there was no food on the train. Not so bad for us as we had bought a sandwich in Verona but some people had an 8 hour journey with no food or drink! Off we went therefore to the main streets only to find most of the nearby places were pizzerias and having just come from Italy that wasn't really what was wanted. Eventually we settled for burgers at Hard Rock cafe which went down very well with some beer.

After a good nights sleep it was off to explore and we decided to just take the funicular to Hungerberg and not go right to the mountain top via cable car. This was partly due to the cost but also because there was low cloud during the morning so the views would have been lost. It was still a fun experience. Then it was a long ramble around Innsbruck and a fab meal of goulash for me before heading back to the hotel. We did subsequently venture out again for a drink in the panoramic 360 degrees bar and made it back before the rain came. A much more pleasant temperature here too today after the burning heat in Italy.

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

VERONA

Oh my its hot. Today we did the hop on and off bus to try and see as much as possible. There are two lines and we did the blue line in a smaller vehicle first. The big double decker couldnt have got through the narrow cobbled streets. To say it was a bone shaker is understating it and trying to take photos whilst rattling over cobbles wasn't easy. We did get an amazing panoramic view when we actually stopped for 5 minutes.

We then switched to the other big red bus but this really didnt take us anywhere very interesting other than seeing the castle and various bridges on the river.

We then walked back to see Juliets balcony and courtyard bit of a rip off costing us €5 each just to see abalcoby but it had to be done really. Tomorrow we are off to the Arena to see the Opera so little point in oaying to look around today too. This is clearly the highlight of the city!

After a glass of wine we walked the long way back to thd hotel via the river wilting in the heat as we did so. Lots of water and a rest in the cool before heading out for food again

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

PISA day 2

Up early and breakfast in the hotel, not a bright idea as it wasn't the best but ok. Then we were off out and walked up to the main sight namely the Leaning Tower. Even though we were there before 9am it was already heaving with people but we did manage to get a restaurant seat right opposite the Tower for a cold drink which was much needed as even at this time of day it was well over 30 degrees.

We then walked around the Baptista and Duomo and saw the tower from all the various angles. Weirdly at some angles it looks actually upright! Then as we had loads of time to spare we walked back to the hotel to get out of the heat then later revisited Tora Tora restaurant for another wonderful dinner and I had to try the lasagna and millefeuille this time. Another great decision!!

[jeanhm]

PiSA

A short 17 minute train ride found us in Pisa with a hotel minutes from the station. Given the heat we decided to leave the sightseeing until the morning when we could make an early and hopefully cooler start so we asked receltion fuf a restaurant suggestion and my, did that turn out to be excellent. It wasin a small square just off the msin shopping street called Tora Tora and for any foodie this place is a must, simple home cooked food with a twist. I had risotto with blue cheeze cherries and almonds and it was so delicious and this was followed by cheesecake with a crmble base not biscuit. Andy had pasta followed by tiramisu in a flower pot! Yummy!

Then it was a chill out, clothes wash and sleep ready for an early start.

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

LIVORNO

We did a brief overnight stop at Livorno on the coast as this had been part of our original booking when we were planning on taking the ferry from here to Corsica before plans changed. It was a huge disappointment and really not worth the effort. There was a large fortress, in fact 2 but little else and no real eateries so I am glad we moved on thr next day.

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

SIENA Day 3 Wine Trip

We walked into the city mid morning for coffee and a pizza lunch for Andys birthday and then at 2pm set off on a wine trip with another family of 3. This took us to a small family run vineyard in the Chianti Classico area called Lornano where we sampled several reds and a lovely rose, all really expensive together with olive oil and balsamic both again yummy but i cant justify a 25cl bottle of oil for €25! Then it was on to the village of Castellina in Chianti where we had a 20mins wander to the Rocca (fortress) dodging the impending thunderstorm. Then it was on to the walled village of Monteriggioni, another pretty little place with walled fortifications. It was just getting ready for 2 days of Medieval Fayre which it would have been good to have seen.

Our final stop was another very posh vineyard Poggio ai Laghi, this time outside of the Chianti Classico area. Whilst the wines, oils and vinegars were all again very nice i think the cheapest bottle was €52 and they did try the hard sell which i found annoying!!!!

The minibus then dropped us back at thr hotel where we were ready to chill and sleep. All in all a lovely day and we avoided the rain!

[jeanhm]

SIENA Day 2

A different andcrelaxing day spending the morning by the pool in the burning heat (and shade) which also allowed us to dry some washed clothes. After lunch at the hotel we watched some tennis and then at 5pm ish we walked into tiwn as tonight qe are off to the Italian Opera in Siena. As this starts at 9pm there was plenty of time for a nice meal in a lovely family run restaurant who even opened up early for us. They were attentive and the food was amazing and i even sampled Ossabuco the local veal dish as I wouldnt normally eat veal.

The Opera was actually a series of arias from different operas performed by a baritone and soprano both doing solos and duets. Most were unknown to me but they put the song synopsis on a screen so it was quite easy to follow. Then it was an 11pm walk back which was actually quite pkeasant given ot had cooled down.

[jeanhm]

[jeanhm]

SIENA

First day to explore Siena where we are staying for a few days. Our hotel is a 2km walk to city centre a good 35 mins walk mainly slightly downhill entering the old city through Porta Camollia. It was a pleasant walk despite it being hot but once in the old town the hilly nature of the place comes to the fore and it was hard work. Our main aim was to locate the meeting point for various trips we are doing which we did first and then had a nice pizza in the centre.

Our trip today was a walking tour of the old town starting at Piazza san Domingo, next to St Caterinas cathedral which we didnt go into. The walk took us through sone of the gothic building lined streets many of which had lamps indicating the area they represented in the famous horse racing which we have just missed and by the sound of it, the place is manic! Our guide spent a lot of time explaining about the races and how everyone is fiercely committed to their area or contrade of which their are 17. It was interesting but we spent far too long hearing about horses and jockeys and bribes. We did eventually get to the very impressive piazza il Campo. This is the semi circular sloping piazza where the races take place lined with restaurants and bars. Then it was upwards to the Duomo (cathedral) which has very impressive mosaic floors. A pleasantly cool place after a hot walk. Then it was a long and slow walk back to the hotel. A long hot day with a lot of walking!

[jeanhm]

TO SIENA

Another travel day though beautiful countryside back from Perugia to Florence then Florence to Siena as you simply can't do cross country here presumably due to the mountains. So after another chocolate heaven breakfast we got a taxi to the station, train left on time and trundled along promptly, important to us as we only had 8 minutes to change platform in Florence. Then we stopped at the last station before Florence main station and eventually we found out the train was going no further (announcements solely in italian for a change). So off we get and find out there's a shuttle bus going. All fine and we resigned ourselves to missing our connection got on the bus, headed through the narrow streets and eventually arrived at the main Florence railway station and luckily the trains to Siena were hourly so on we hop and arrive in Siena just an hour late.

Our hotel is part of the Marriot chain 2km ish out of town high on a hill with beautiful rooms and grounds. Initial shock was they gave us the key to the wrong room which I opened to find a naked young man standing there!!! Opps back to reception and yes allocated the wrong room lol!!

Apart from having a couple of drinks by the pool and terrace we just ate at the terrace restaurant which was lovely but a bit pricey and relaxed for the evening watching tennis.