2009 - NCL GEM - TRANSATLANTIC - CINQUE TERRE

OVERNIGHT WE SAILED NORTH FROM ROME TO LIVORNO.

FROM THERE WE GO BY BUS FURTHER NORTH, PASSING CARRARA OF MARBLE FAME & PISA OF LEANING TOWER FAME.

BOTH ARE WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

ARRIVING IN LA SPEZIA

WE SWITCH TO A BOAT & THERE IS SUNFLOWER, GIVING SOMEONE ELSE A TOUR.

I HAVE A NEW CAMERA FOR THIS TRIP. I SHOWED A LADY ON THE BOAT THIS WEIRD TRICK IT DOES.
PRESS THE SHUTTER BUTTON & IT TAKES 16 PHOTOS & PUTS THEM INTO ONE PICTURE. ALL WITHIN THE CAMERA.

BIZARRE

WE AGREE THIS IS A USELESS FEATURE & I NEVER USED IT AGAIN.

IT DOES OTHER STUFF TOO. LIKE TAKING ABOUT 14 PICTURES WITH ONE CLICK OF THE CAMERA. NOT SEQUENTIAL PICTURES. ALL THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT EXPOSURES. 3 OF THIS. 3 OF THAT. ONE COLOUR, ONE BLACK & WHITE.
I GAVE THE CAMERA AWAY.

BACK ON THE BOAT FOR THE REAL START OF THE EXCURSION.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FROM LA SPEZIA & ALONG THE COAST, TOUCHING ALL OF THE CINQUE TERRE - THE FIVE VILLAGES OF - MONTEROSSO AL MARE, VERNAZZA, CORNIGLIA, MANAROLA AND RIOMAGGIORE.

MAYBE NOT ALL FIVE. I LOST COUNT.

NCL BILL IT AS ‘EASY’. EASY IT AINT.

IT INCLUDES A BOAT RIDE, A WALK, ANOTHER BOAT RIDE & A TRAIN. MORE WALKING - UP AND DOWN STAIRS. IN AND OUT OF PASSAGEWAYS.

ALL THIS ON AN ITALIAN BANK HOLIDAY & THEY ARE OUT IN THEIR DROVES ENJOYING THIS STUNNING PART OF THEIR COUNTRY.

HOW THE GUIDES DID NOT LOSE ANYONE IS BEYOND ME. I THINK WE DID AT ONE POINT. SOME FOLKS FOUND IT NOT SO EASY.

WE START WITH THE BOAT RIDE.

PASSING LITTLE TOWNS ON SHORE

THE HILLSIDES ARE ALMOST STRAIGHT UP. HOW DO THEY FARM THAT?

WE GET OFF THE BOAT & WALK UP TO TH ENTRANCE OF THE TRAIL

THERE'S THE TRAIL....

THE LOVERS BENCH. YOU COULD DIE OF STARVATION WAITING TO GET YOU TURN ON THE SEAT. I PASS & MOVE ON

WE MAY HAVE BEEN ON ANOTHER BOAT SINCE THE BOAT FROM LA SPEZIA.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK WITHOUT MY GPS BUT I DON'T GET THAT FOR A FEW YEARS YET.

BUT THAT WAS DEFINITELY US BOARDING A BOAT & A LITTLE TRICKY IT WAS TOO..

BUT I DO KNOW IT'S TIME FOR LUNCH. BREAD & CHEESE WITH HONEY & MUSTARD FOR ME...

A LITTLE BEACH TIME AND A WALK TO TAKE IN THE BEAUTY ALONG THE COAST

NICE LITTLE DOG.

“HEY, LUIGI. YOU THINK I’M GETTING TOO FAT.

NO, DARLING. SCUSSI - SIT DOWN, YOU ARE BLOCKING MY SUN.”

THAT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP. I WOULD GO BACK.