Ulric's Travel Adventures: Italy

Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

Italy-Touring the 5 Island Cinque Terre (Part 1)

After putting down all my stuff in the hostel. I went out immediately, pardon for not snapping photos of the hostel as I think its not really up to standard.

Alot of people will not have heard of Cinque Terre and wonder why I went to this remotely known place.
Reason being the main attraction of the Cinque Terre is the landscape. Mediterranean herbs and trees grow spontaneously from the top of the hills down to the water level. Well embedded in this magnificent natural scenery, one can admire the intense human activity of the ancestors, when the wine terraces were built.

Well, let the pictures do the talking...

FIRST STOP: Riomaggiore

My intention to walk through all 5 islands...let the journey begin

The gate where the walk begins...

The walkway

Random Shots along the way

The walk is along the sea where you get to enjoy the sea breeze and further away there is the tunnel of love.
The tunnel of love connects Riomaggiore and Manarola.

Entrance of the tunnel of love

Inside the tunnel of love...not really that romantic with all the graphite huh?

Found something interesting :)

Another interesting thing is that couples will buy locks and lock it on something to profess their love never ending love for each other.

I've reached Manarola in about 20-30mins.

I didn't really stay long at Manarola, I just pass by and snap a few photos.

There is a flight of stairs that you need to climb and this was taken when I was near the top of the stairs.

Streets of Manarola

Some random shots of Manarola

Left Manarola for Corniglia...

Looking back at Manarola

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Italy-Journey to Cinque Terre (5 Island)

I left Venice with a heavy heart, and have to take a overnight train to this amazing place called Cinque Terre. However, the journey to there was quite torturous, I have to travel from Venice to Bologna and to Parma and wait for roughly about 6 hours before taking the train from Parma to Cinque Terre. The whole train journey took about 12 hours including waiting time.

Arriving at Bologna

Arriving at Parma

I remembered while waiting for about 6 hours for the train to Cinque Terre, I and my travelling companions have to resort to wait in a small waiting room where there is no air con with cockroaches roaming around. My 2 travelling companions were too tired while waiting and took a quick nap while I stayed up to look after our belonging just in case there are thieves lurking around. I took out my laptop and watch about 3 movies and when we board the train. I totally just crashed out!!!

Don't know what is Cinque Terre all about????

Cinque Terre which means Five Lands, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Cinque comprise the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso located in the region of Liguria in the province of La Spezia.

After a short nap...we have reached Cinque Terre, and we were staying at Riomaggiore as it is the island that most tourist would stay at for cheap hostels :) Got down the train and all of us were hungry so we went to a nearby cafeteria to order our breakfast.

Our breakfast came in no time and this is what I ordered :)))))) Cafe Latte and Pesto Pasta

After breakfast, we checked into our hostel (I was staying in a different nearby hostel as there were no vacancy available in the hostel where my traveling companions were staying). My hostel room is located at the top of the pink coloured wall

You can imagine how TOTALLY DRAINED OUT I am...but the exploration MUST CONTINUE!!!

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Italy- My One day Getaway to Venice (Part 2)

Gondolas is a frequent sight in Venice

San Giorgio Maggiore taken from Piazza San Marco

Lido at the other side :)

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to go onto both islands. :(((

Summer heat is coming!!! It was getting warmer since morning but Venice is still filled with tourist.

The Gondoliere awaiting for potential customers :)

Venice is a place that could get quite confusing at times as their narrow alleys looked the same. Thus, it would be wise for you to take down building numbers when you happen to see so you are able to navigate your way around this small city.

I took this photo of the church which I don't seem to remember. My apologies but I thought I should just share with you readers out there. (if anyone knows of this building, feel free to drop me a comment)

I was tired after walking for awhile and sat by the steps of the canal...

Found my way to a "Fish" market which has been closed for the day. I said it with a " " because it smells fishy when I went in :P

Being cautious of my bearings when I was walking...I GOT LOST and came upon this piazza which was like super big and you could see the slow and relax life people of Venice are enjoying.

Found my way to San Giovanni e Paolo, a fine, huge Dominican church with the tombs of many Doges.

Took my chance to snap some photos secretly

I guess this is the tomb of the Doges?

The alter of the church

The buildings around the church...typical Venice

And I chance upon a drink with a weird name... CHINO!

Never tried it thou.

Just to side track abit...In Europe, they call Asians, Chino be it if you are Chinese, Malay or Indian

I was already walking back to the train station to head to another part of Italy to continue my journey when I saw a little girl taking a shot of this wonderful shot and I gave my "artistic" photo taking another try.

The rest are some random shots I took on my way back...I hope you like it as this marks my day trip of Venice.

I left Venice with a heavy thou I have only been there for less then 18 hours? I really left that this city is vibrate in its own special way and that I hope this city would be still around in the next decade so that people can still visit this small but wonderful city before it submerge into the sea. GOOD BYE VENICE!

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Italy- My One day Getaway to Venice (Part 1)

I flew south to the amazing country of GELATO!!! ITALY~~~

Landed in Milan Airport

I'm not going to visit Milan but I'm meeting a friend in Milan to take a train to Venice! I'm not really interested with all the rich and branded stuff that Milan has to offer to the rich cause I'm a poor student. :(

Took a bus down from the airport to Milan Train station...

Gotten my tickets and was so EXCITED!!! On my way to Venice!

My Train EUROSTAR!

After a few hours of train ride, I HAVE FINALLY REACHED VENICE!!!

Venice, the world's only pedestrian city, is easily walkable, and the absence of cars makes this a particularly pleasant experience. If you want to get around a bit more quickly, there are numerous vaporetti (water buses) and water taxis. The vaporetti are generally the best way to get around, even if the service route map changes frequently

So I took the water buses for the experience...Gotten my ticket~

The water bus stop...

The waterbus~

I have yet to mention about the Famous Gondolas in Venice...

Too bad, it was way too expensive to ride on a Gondola thus, I missed this chance but the main thing is I'm in Venice! cause I always wanted to visit Venice since I was young and a few years back, I heard that Venice is starting to SINK!!!

Took the waterbus and alighted near Rialto Bridge and got myself a Gelato...yum yum~

The Rialto Bridge which has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524

The alleyways are really compact...I wonder how bigger size people managed to walk through...

Took a shot of the river on the Rialto Bridge...AMAZING isn't it?

Went to the Rialto Market where there are lots of shops selling souvenirs and other small restaurant which is much cheaper then those selling at San Marco.