Cinque Terre

Finally…….some swimming in the sea!

After being deprived of smelling the sea air, seeing sea gulls, and having that salt caked feeling on our skin, we got to go swimming in the Med! We were lucky enough to spend a week in the Italian Riviera with Simon and Andrea from NZ.





We flew into Genoa and then caught a train down to Levanto to do the Cinque Terre trail. This is a series of 5 small fishing villages set amongst a UNESCO World Heritage site on the north western coast of Italy. There are well trodden paths cut into the coast leading between the villages and the scenery was amazing as the trails run quite high above the villages.





It was a warm 35 degrees for most of the week meaning we had to break out the shorts and bikini tops (or just shirts off for the blokes) for most of the week. We feel quite spoiled with our lovely golden sandy beaches at home, and can’t quite understand the attraction to sunbathing on the rocks or concrete boat ramps! I guess that what happens when the beaches are all pebbles.





We did a whole lot of walking but the views and charm of each of the villages made it all worth it. We also did a day trip to Portofino –there was an impressive bunch of super yachts anchored in the bay and the only shopping you could do there was at stores such as Gucci, Prada, Hermes or Louis Vuitton! You could also pay NZD$18 for a coke, so needless to say we stuck to the water and a standard pizza.



On our last day we did the biggest walk of all from a little hill top town called Campiglia down to a larger town called Portovenerre. This was a very rocky and less trodden path that was slightly more of a bush walk than a coastal walk. It was pretty hot and tough going, but Simon still managed to truck through with his jandals carrying everything he and Andrea needed for the day in a plastic supermarket bag (we will never cease to be amazed!!). We were rewarded with a dip in the sea off some rocks in a great wee picturesque cove.



We are pretty much pizza, pasta and gelatied out now, and are almost on the homeward journey. Our shipping boxes have arrived (and been packed!) and we have just under 2 weeks left in the UK before we start our 5 week trip home. Watch this space for more news and pics shortly and we will see you soon!

Birthdays

We were lucky enough to be part of Mat’s Grannies 90th birthday celebrations last month. We headed down to Devon to spend the weekend with Dulcie and some of Mat’s family. We LOVE trains here (it’s so easy and cheap if you book in advance and reliable!) so we got the train down Friday night.

Mat’s parents are in the UK now for a few months, so we all stayed with Mat’s Auntie and Uncle for the weekend. Saturday saw a surprise lunch for Dulcie and about 25 other friends and family at a lovely restaurant. Sheila and Paul (Mat’s other Auntie and Uncle) did a great job of organising the whole weekend and it was great to meet some of Mat’s cousins. We also got to meet and play with Esme (3) and Maggie (1) –I suppose cute wee Esme and Maggie are 2nd cousins?? We spent Sunday at Dulcie’s house having coffee and cake in the sun. We enjoyed playing football and hide and seek with Esme (even if she did call me a loser! :-) ).





The following weekend we were off again –this time to Paris for a long weekend on the Eurostar. What a cool way to get to another European city! It only takes 2 hours and you don’t have to be there 2 hours before departure etc.

This was our 2nd trip to Paris, but last Summer when we were there is poured with rain the whole time. This time was a totally different scene, and although it was cold and windy at the top of the Eiffel Tower, the views were amazing –a pretty cool way to spend your birthday!!!

We also went back to our favourite spot in Paris –up at Montmarte by Sacre Couer. There were the usual fantastic buskers and typically French artists finishing off oil paintings and pastel drawings. We also took in the sights around Moulin Rouge this time, and the Pompidou Centre (although I fancied the big fluffy couches in the lobby a little more than the artwork!).





So another busy month in the world of Mat and Sam on Tour. Not long to go now before the tour starts winding up!