Hiking and biking make Amanda's butt look GREAT!

It's been so long since I wrote that this one is sure to be a long one!! Not that they all aren't! When I wrote last I was just finishing up my visit to Florence. After I left the computer place I went for lunch at a place called 'Da Marios' which is only open for lunch and serves the best (and most authentic) italian food! When you get there they just sit you wherever there is a place for you, so I ended up sitting with two retired sisters from Colorado, and two Italian business men. I had pasta with boar meat...really good, and a crafe of wine (that's what you get when you order a glass!) Needless to say I ended up getting a little intoxicated on the great food, amazing company, and of course the wine. I went to the museum but saw how long the line was and just couldn't stomach waiting in it. Instead I headed back to the hostel and just chilled out for a while. That evening my other roomates returned and we sat around chatting for hours. They included 3 guys I met in Rome Chris, Simon, and Nick; a really fun guy from Wisconsin, Fritz; and a super fun Aussie Gal named Susan...must be the name because she is just as lovely as my mom!! We eventually when out for dinner and then just crashed. The next morning I grabed a train and headed North to Cinque Terre. I don't know if I have explained it before, but basically it's 5 small villages, right on the coat, that are connected by an amazing hike. Its 12km and said to be the best hiking ever. I didn't stay in any of the villages, but rather in a place called Biassa, just outside Cinque Terre, in a hostel recommended to me by Eric...he gave me the BEST suggestions!! On the bus to Biassa from La Spezia, I met a couple from San Francisco, Robin and Jonathan. They were staying at the same place as me so we made plans to have dinner together, but each took some time to chill out before hand. The restaurant didn't open till 7:30pm, so we decided to meet for drinks at the bar before going. While we were sitting chatting with some other people, a woman came out of her room because she had heard my voice...apparently its really distinctive! It turned out that she was another person I have met at the hostel in Rome, and while we were getting really excited and hugging each other, I knocked a wine bottle off the table and it smashed...more excitement provided by Amanda!!! Alicia (woman I met in Rome) came to dinner with us, and once again we ordered wine and got a little tipsy. But SO much fun!
Saturday morning, we all got up for breakfast and then caught the bus to Riomaggiore, to start our hike. Alicia and I decided to do it together to give each other support. Robin and Jonathan decided to do it in two days, so we left them to do their thing. The first hike to Manarola is really easy and took us only around 30minutes. It's just a paved path like walking in a park. The second leg to Corniglia took us only another 30 minutes and was a little more rocky, but still a really well preserved path. We stopped for lunch at a place with a view, and had some really great pasta. Then we had to psyche ourselves up for the last part of the hike, which is apparently the hardest. To Vernazza the path is really rocky and up and down the whole time. To Monterosso, the path was straight up for 20 minutes, but then leveled out for 45 minutes, before heading down hill. But at the end we were rewarded with a chilly swim in the sea. An amazing day and I was so happy that I could share it with Alicia.
My last night in Biassa was pretty chill...most of us just flaked out around 10:30pm after our big day of hiking.
Sunday morning I got up and caught the bus back to La Spezia where I caught a train to Pisa for the day. I was accompanied by a guy named Alex who is from Vancouver, and we met a guy named Chris from Dublin, Georgia once we arrived. The three of us headed to the Leaning tower and took all the goofy pictures of ourselves holding it up. We then visited the Cathedrale and the Baptistry. Both really pretty. Alex caught a train back to Cinque Terre after that, and Chris and I had lunch together before each catching a train to our final destinations. I headed to a city called Lucca. Its a walled city, and so beautiful. Unfortunately when I arrived and called my hostel, I was told I was in a different building than the one I had booked, and the guy couldn't tell me what bus to take. Thank goodness for Travel Information places!! I got on my bus, and got to the building, but needed to call the guy again to ask how to get into my room. He explained that the office was closed after 1:30pm, but that my key was around the back in a window. So I went and investigated, found a key, got into the building, but couldn't find the room...so once again I trecked back to the phone and called him again. He told me I was infact in room number 2, not 6. I thanked him, got my key, and finally made it into my room. And all the hard work was worth it. The room was a double, with 2 single beds, a tv, and a really nice view. I thought I had the whole thing to myself, so spread all my stuff out, got some dinner, watched MTV in english, and gave myself a pedicure. I finally crashed around 11pm. I was not asleep long when there was a knock on my door, and the owner asking if he could come in. I told him he could and two me came in. Apparently I did have a roomate, he just got delayed. Anyway, I just went back to sleep and let the guy get himself settled. I don't even know his name! I just didn't care I was so sleepy!
My day in Lucca was really fun. I dropped my bags off at the Travel Info place for safe keeping, then went and rented a bike and rode around the walls for a couple hours. It was so much fun, and I actually asked a couple to take my picture, but I never checked to make sure it worked and apparently they don't know how to work a camera because it didn't take. But it was still a great day.
I came back to Florence yesterday afternoon, and after some stress around finding a place to stay in Verona, I decided to spend tonight in Florence again, and head to Verona tomorrow with Susan. Last night Susan, Mandy (an American student studying in Vienna) and I went out for dinner, then went out for some drinks at a few different places. It was a lot of fun, but my tummy wasn't feeling too great so I called it quits around 12:30am and headed to bed. The others came home around 3am this morning, after partying it up at a club for a few hours.
This morning we were supposed to get up and meet Vicky and Dave at their villa at 9am, but we were all so tired we ended up sleeping in and got their late. However the guy that works there, a really cute Italian man, gave us a tour in the day light and let us wander around the gardens. Much more beautiful during the day and many pictures were taken. When we were done at the villa we headed to the market, and ran into Dave and Vicky there. Vicky seemed to be having amazing luck at finding stuff, but the three of us gals weren't so lucky. Mandy did find an amazing bag, and Susan bought some Vigin Wear, but I just got a sandwhich....but my goodness was it great!
All three of us were really wipped by the time we were done, Mandy actually left early to get some rest, so I headed back to the hostel, while Susan went to lunch. After a rest, Susan woke me up and we went on a hunt for some rubber boots. I don't know if I've talked about the rubber boots before, but I met a girl name Dominique in Naples and she had these really cool rubber boots and I wanted a pair. She emailed me the street, so this afternoon Susan and I went on the hunt. We finally found the store and I got the coolest pair. They are a really great investment because I'm moving to Ireland...where it rains a lot. I have also decided I need to get a bike in Ireland, with a basket and streamers on the handlebars. Ireland is not going to know what hit it when I arrive!!
So that brings you mostly up to date on my life. I finally got a ticket to go to London on the 31st of October for the BusAbout reunion...and Susan will be there! I'm really excited to see everyone (almost everyone) from Greece!!!
I'm going to load some pictures next so get ready for some laughs...and some pangs of jealousy at the amazing scenery!!!
Love to you all!!!