traveled in 2 countries Read more
  • Day 11

    Some sites from the past few days

    October 14, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Wake up at 7:30 each day for a three mile run. Get lost and forget to bring my key is a common theme here in Venice. Clean up and tour different areas of the city. The Peggy Guggenheim collection has to be the highlight. Picasso plus a host of other amazing artists. Walking between 5 -10 miles a day. Feet are tired at the end. Breakfast usually coffee and croissants at the apartment plus fresh fruit. Coffee and biscuits midday. Larger lunch out later in the afternoon. Today we are at the Venice Art Biennale. Each country had a pavilion with selected art or artists or an installation. I don't understand most of it. For the German one we needed an app to see the art. The display was partial figures, but when looked at through the app the whole figure could be seen. Next post I will include a pic. We toured Margot's studio from 35 years ago and had a group dinner back at our 5 bedroom apartment. 28 for dinner including 2 profs. Met in San Marco square for a recreation of a picture of the students. 15 from 20 are here, plus some spouses. They seem to get lost in each other and revert to studies from the past. Just for Kathleen, my best meal had to be a lunch in Florence. Spaghetti and meatballs sauce. There were cherry tomatoes surrounding the pasta on the plate that melted like tomato paste. So good and flavourful. I order pasta at all opportunities. My plan is to gain weight here. I'm eating enough, but with all the walking, I'm not sure. I do know I don't like walking. My feet hurt from being on them all day. I have more steps than when I would run 50 miles a week. Tonight is another group dinner. Tomorrow will be my first ever opera. Where else to attend one? By the time we finish up dinner and cleanup each evening I'm ready for bed, forgetting to write. I've skipped out on a few pavilions while Margot tours them, so I get to write this. I am thinking of curling up on the grass for a nap. Ciao.Read more

  • Day 6

    Florence/Firenze

    October 9, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Traveled here yesterday, checked into lovely room then walked to Accadamia to see statue of David. It is everything it's hyped to be. Toured city by walking, napped, another great meal, Margot's 60th birthday dinner.
    Today we walked and walked, toured an amazing church and one of the paintings was a replica as the original was included in a exhibition. So we went to the exhibition. Paintings we're so detailed and large. Walked and shopped and ate. Quick nap. Then out for dinner and saw the city from up high. Walked 10miles today. Feet are feeling the pain. I think running would be easier. Tomorrow up early to travel to Venice for a week.
    Read more

  • Day 4

    3 town day

    October 7, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Yesterday we hiked 1/2 way to the town south of us to find the trail washed out along the ocean. So we trekked back to the train station and hitched a ride. We probably walked the same distance from Corniglia to Manarola. The first part from Corniglia from the town to sea level directly down some stairs. The rest was relatively level. Had a great time touring the city. Lunch was spaghetti with meat sauce. Great. Ordered what we thought was lemonade, but was a lemon flavour shooter. Met a nice couple from Wisconsin at the next table. Margot bought a nice sweater and some scarfs. Train back to Corniglia for a nap before dinner. Wound up in a bar just before early closing and had ravioli for dinner. Reservations are needed on the weekends.
    Today was the 3 town day including Corniglia. We trekked north to Vernazza. A 3km hike that the guide said would take 1 1/2 hours. I laughed as I repeated this to Margot. Well it took us one hour 20 not including the break for fresh squeezed orange juice at the 1/2 way point. Toured the town with a pizza lunch break. Next with took a train to the most northen of the Cinque terre towns, Monterosso. A busy place with a beach for showing off the most skin and little fabric as one could. Had a gelati break. Temps today were low 20s. Train back to Corniglia for a nap. We've walked each way to the train station here by road to avoid the stairs down to the trail. 3/4 mile each way. Photos are from yesterday as Max per post is 6. Running 6 miles each morning before a day of walking has played havoc on my quads. Basically 900 ft of climb over 3 miles. Then to run down hill as well. There is no flat portions.
    Read more

  • Day 3

    Vacation starts today

    October 6, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Traveled overnight from Toronto to Rome. Not much sleep and airport food sucks. Arrived in Rome and one hour later thru customs. Always moving, but it seems from the gate to to customs to baggage we traveled the airport twice. Had a an amazing sandwich and cuppachino at the airport. Then onto the train for a 4 hour ride to Corniglia. Checked in to our air bnb room, cleaned up and had an amazing seafood pasta dinner with seafood appetizers. The church bells ring here every half hour from 6 am to 9 pm. Up at 6 am this morning for a run to the next town. 2 miles up and 1 mile down. Then turn around to come back. Had a pre breakfast. Now to go for another breakfast, pack a lunch and walk to the town I just ran to. Apparently, there is a shorter path to get there.Read more

  • Day 1

    Starting Line

    October 4, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Final packing happening. I want to get to the airport early to grab a meal at Stella's. Yay we made it on time. The eating starts now. First time using Nexus card. Skip the line and they let Margot through with me. Card paid for itself in just one use. The lineup would have been about 20 minutes. More food in Toronto.Read more

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android