Lunch at Sommocolonia, and Florence at last ...

On Sunday, we had lunch with Bogdanka, Dino and Filippo.  We went up to Sommocolonia, the village high above Barga, where someone has recently opened an Agriturismo with restaurant.  Nice place, nice company and very good food.

On Tuesday, we made our first and only trip to Florence this winter.  In the good weather, the centre was very busy with tourists.  We did a little shopping, and visited the Duomo. We didn't even have to queue.

On the way home, we had time to go into Lucca to see the wonderful show of Magnolias lining the Corso Garibaldi

Up in the mountains ...

... all covered in snow - but now disappearing rapidly

Palazzo Vecchio and Barbara

The bell-tower designed by Giotto 

Vasari's magnificent frescoes in the dome of the cathedral

Magnolias just catching the last rays of the setting sun ...

... but they were just as lovely illuminated by the street lights against the night sky

Cinque Terre 2

On the second day, we walked from Manarolo, where we had spent the night, up many beautiful steps to the tiny village of Volastra, along to the village of Corniglia then finally to our destination, Vernazza.  Much easier walking than yesterday, but the paths are often on the sides of precipices, so you have to pay attention!

On the way, we saw several of the small monorail contraptions used by the vine growers to move materials around the steep terraces.  Very precarious-looking, but they seem to be good workhorses - we saw several new "engines" and also some new rail being installed.  They must save a lot of back breaking work up and downhill.

Heading out of Manarola - up steps of course

Vine farmers go on their perilous way up the terraces ...

Looking across to the very end of the Cinque Terre, to Monterosso al Mare

Round here, the tree heather really was trees - and all in bloom

Nest of the caterpillars of the Pine Processionary Moth, a serious pest of pine trees in the Mediterranean and North Africa

Looking back to Corniglia

Watch the birdie - and the hidden precipice!

Vernazza appears at last below us, identifiable by its distinctive round tower

Most of the villages have their boats drawn up into the streets over the winter time

Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre

The train trip up the valley to Aulla, for the nth time this year, took us to La Spezia, the town on the bay which is the home port for Italy's navy.  Then a short bus trip to the fishing village of Porto Venere which we had enjoyed visiting last year.  This is not one of the five Cinque Terre (pronounced Cheenkwe Terry!), but is linked to them by a hard trekking trail right up and over the hills behind the town.  By far the hardest hiking we've done - including Nepal!

On the way we had splendid views ranging from the distant French Alps and Corsica, to the much nearer bay of La Spezia with the Appenines and Apuan Alps beyond,

Leaving Barga ...

Porto Venere - The harbour, and tall thin houses - renovation work is a never-ending task

Round the shore, there is still some wave action from the recent windy weather 

Full-rigged ships were gathering in the Bay of La Spezia in preparation for an open day at the naval port next week

Seafood is de rigeur at the seaside ...

Restored fisherman's house has a spectacular view of the harbour and distant mountains

Just above the town, we set off in the sun

A lonesome pine frames this view of La Spezia with Appenines beyond

Colourful view from the cliffs

A better prospect ...

As Barbara had promised (she studies the weather forecast) - we have a much better day today.  Some new snow on the mountains, though, but that shouldn't affect us - unless the navigation goes seriously wrong!

As the crow flies, our destination lies about 30 miles away due west
 - a bit longer by train!

Rainy days ...

Oh dear, today was about the rainiest this winter.  Frequent foggy white-outs, and spectacular thunder and lightning in the evening.  Lets hope things improve tomorrow - we plan to do some hiking in the Cinque Terre - not much fun in the wet!

The mist clears to reveal the drookit duomo ...

Leisurely lunch in Parma ...

Although it's rainy here today, it was a beautiful day on Wednesday, when Jenny was to leave us to go to Bologna before flying home.  And so we decided to accompany her on the train up the Serchio valley and on to Parma for lunch.

The valley trip is spectacular, and, once through the Appenines, the expanse of the Po valley emerges, and visible in the distance, the snowy peaks of the Alps - over a hundred miles away.

Grand day for a trip

At Barga's little station 

The chapel at the village Sambuca on its rocky crest

Frescos in Parma's wonderful Art Nouveau Post Office

Parma's baptistry and the Piazza del Duomo 

Baptistry and campanile of the duomo

Inside Parma's lovely duomo 

Feeling jolly after lunch on the (tented) pavement

A hike up Monte Croce

We were glad to be able to give Jenny this grand day's hike.  We have been up Monte Croce already this winter, but with the lack of snow this dry year, it proved to be perfectly climbable even as early in the year as 26 February.

It was a stunning day, and, very unusually, we met many people enjoying it.  Firstly, the river in the valley was busy with anglers - we foud out that it is the first day of the trout fishing season.  Then, on the hill, small groups people were to be seen all around on the paths - we presume it was a spring climb of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano).

The climb is characterised by a spectacular rock gully where the path gets rather steep and narrow - a chain has been provided to give a bit of extra security and confidence.

Roadside snowdrops on the way to the village of Palignana and the start of the climb

Near to the Foce delle Porchette, from where the Med can be seen for the first time

Barbara and Jenny on the approach to the gully

Barbara emerges from the gully into the sunlight

Jenny points to the very satisfying sign which reads
"This route for experienced hikers only"!

Magnificent view from the summit showing the peak of the Pania della Croce.  The white patches on the hills to the left are the Carrara marble quarries

At the top - not too pecked! Camera looking North - Pania della Croce in background

Jenny was there too ...

The view to the South

Crocuses basking in a sun-trap beside a wall

No caption needed ...

Nearly down to the road, then half an hour of hairpins before we reach the car!