Mixed Feelings But Italy (Part One)
I will be honest with you, my readers, I had no intention in posting a blog today. As my grandfather Gillis is in the hospital ill. I considered writing about him but I thought that I should put more thought into what I say about him, than whatever came to mind as I write this blog. But I was just talking to my mom who wished I would post some pictures of Italy, to cheer her and my father up. So...I shall
Also, thank you for all the comments on the last blog, I enjoy them and, in Bowles's case, answering his questions which, while never on the right topic, are still pleasing to try and answer. I did not enjoy as such the identity theft which my sister StacEy practised and you are right Maddie, I was standing on the third hill, where Edinburgh castle is. I now owe you two drinks next time I see you...and who knows when that will be?
We went to Italy this past summer, and StacEy, Andrew and I spent a day in Turin in the province of Piedmont, where the recent Olympics were held, before meeting up with our parents. It is a really beautiful city, I strongly reccomend it to anyone. Especially good is the Italian Film Museum, well worth a visit as we spent half the day in there. Ths sad part is I have no pictures from there, I must have forgot my camera in the hotel, c'est la vie. Anyways we departed via rail towards The Cinque Terre, which is a national park in the province of Liguria. I know the park's name looks french but is not pronouced the same at all, you can ask me next time you see me. On the way I was almost arrested by the police for having my feet on the train seat, but I pleaded I was foreign and had 'never' been on an European train before. This seemed to work and I know it was a bit crass of me but as neither my sibling or Andrew were moving to help me I had to do something.
But at last we came to Vernazza, the town where we stayed. It is in the center of the five towns that make the Cinque Terre (Cinque...five...hmmm). The problem I have with writing and posting pics of this place is that it can never compare with being there. I mean the most amazing place I have ever seen period. I am quite serious, it was the most spectacular looking place that I have seen of all the places I have been in my life (Which have been a fair few). Now I know that in a later blog I am going to say that I would love to live in the province of Tuscany and you will say, 'what about the Cinque Terre Gillis. you bloody flipflopper?' Well, culturally speaking I prefered Tuscany and it is the second most beautiful place I have been, but no, seriously, visit the Cinque Terre for the scenery (And take me with you).
Just fantastic, and the water was as warm as it looks. Also the rail line ran under the hills so it really was this beautiful solitary place. Between the five towns is a foot path that runs along the side of the hills, with the steps (and there were a blooming lot of them, seriously, sometimes over 600 just going up) carved out of stone. We stayed at a hermitage that is beyond the hill on the left of this pic so it was a job just to get to your bed every night. Better yet, I will show you in the next two pics just how far it took to walk to the town. 
Here are the folks, Andrew and StacEy coming down into the town one morning. I ran ahead (Somehow I turned out to be a bit mountain goat even in my shape). Also note that only after a few years of Andrew's connection with our family and he is already stained with the Tilley parasite. The next pic is taken a second later with no zoom from the base of the steps in the town.
You can just make them out to the right of the house in the center. So it was quite a walk just down to the bar in the evening. There were a few tourists but really it was not overcrowded in a visible sense. I have a few shots from within the town itself, commentless.
The next one is actually the backyard view from where we were staying. Then a shot down to the town from where we were staying. I will follow it with some more shots of Vernazza and then I am off. Since I am likely to going back to Canada this week I will probably not have an update this coming weekend but there will be loads more pics from Cinque Terre and Tuscany. So if you love them, great, if you don't...meh.
Clicking off,
A B
posted by Alan @ 3:21 PM
1 comments
This evil troll, seen here plotting or praying, was seen at the York youth hostel. This is either just before or just after she ate a whole slab of lemon fudge.
Some may recall the earlier blogs, with me complaining of the heights climbed to cathedral tops in Durham and York. Well just look at the space I had to climb in. I can barely fit and people had to go up and down at the same time...tsk...bloody Normans, learn how to build a church (AWW I just made you learn history). 
Here is a funny story, nothing to do with the pic, but the religious theme reminded me. I found out the other day just what faith I was growing up. I had no idea, as for that last few years have identified myself as a former anglican...turns out I was United Baptist...go figure. And look here, obviously now I am Jewish. No in fact to enter the Jewish church in Praha you had to wear these. I still have mine, I wear it once in awhile, alone in my room, and pretend :) (I am kidding Grammy Betty, sheesh).
It took Andrew I don't know how long to decide what pose comrade Lenin would prefer him to take...and what did he go with? constipated? I cannot tell, free drinks to whoever can accurately describe his look here.
Oh look, jolly old England. I can see why no one ever visits. No it is not always like this, it is snowing right now...and at the same time the flowers are blooming...weird eh. I wasn't around for when or where this pic was taken. But I know that my brother will enjoy seeing just how miserable my sister is here.
...well...Well...WELL. This certinly explains much. How thick all my siblings are for instance. Their total lack of physical abilities. I must have been lucky that my genetics overcame the obvious attempts at permanent damage my parents are seen here inflicting on my nieces.
Here is part of the Royal Mile, the main street of Edinburgh, chok full of expensive shops, but not a real tourist trap, like Praha was. There is Stace, Andrew and Stewart. Stewart and Michelle are friends of Staces (And now me, because I am so wonderful). Michelle would not get in the shot, I have no idea why, but you can go see them and their blog (Much nicer than mine, and a real fan base). They are both Canadians, 'stuck' in Glasgow :) 
This is the Heart of Midlothian, found a little ways along the royal mile. No, it has nothing to do with Hearts FC in Scotland. But it is a tradition for Scots (I am one quarter, so it is alright) to spit on it for good luck, but NEVER step on it. But of course they did not take into account people like my sister, who in trying to spit on it, stepped on it...sigh.
Here it is, the main event, Edinburgh Castle. It was really quite nice inside, lots of history and whatnot (Interesting, no one ever asks what the whatnot is...). I had nicer views and at night, but they all failed to come out. Here is a little history tidbit for you, the castle is still garrisoned, making it the oldest in Britian still in use.
Here is Arthur's Seat, seen from the Castle. We did not walk up there, as it was pouring sporadically throughout the day, and quel surprise, none of us packed wet weather gear. Edinburgh is sort of nestled in between three large hills, and Arthur's seat is actually an extinct volcano. 
Here is the third hill, I think called Sailsbury Crag (Hey I was on holiday). Now I know the thicker ones out there are going to be racking their heads "Well, where is the third hill?". Well, I am not going to answer that, you will just have to figure it out, a free drink (When I see you) to whoever responds first with the correct answer. STACEY AND ANDREW EXCLUDED, you were there.
Now this was intended simply as a example of my crass sister, humping a cannon. But I think it provides an excellent visual demonstration of the size of some of the cannon, as the next shot will show.
This is Mons Meg, a rather famous Scots cannon, a bombard cannon to the intellectual stimulated. A cannon is still fired (Not Meg)...at 1:00 I think...everyday. I tried to get her to hump this one as well...but I think we can see that was not going to happen. So I settled with Andrew getting into a compromising position.
Ohhh, that had to hurt coming out. One has to wonder whether he really has that look when he is in the loo. But I should not really make fun, I mean my mother managed to give birth to me and my huge head :)
Right beside the castle is the Whiskey Museum, or something like that. For all the unenlightened in Canada, what you call scotch is actually called whiskey over here. So a little tip, do not go into a bar in Scotland and ask for a scotch, you may get beat up, as that is a derogatory English term for Scottish. From this pic you can see just some of the whiskey we had. I, for instance, learned that I prefer lowlands, or even speyside if I had to. But highlands and the islands, I just cannot stomach. See, I am an expert. 
AAAHHH WHERE IS BILLIE PIPER!!!...See, so few of you are going to get the Doctor Who reference...but that is ok (See that is funny, I am forgiving people who I am not even talking too...yikes). This is a police call box, moslty removed from England, but appartenly still common in Scotland, though not in use. Oh, and in Doctor Who, they time travel in a Tardis...which looks like one of these call boxes...alright. I have a number of more pics, but I think I should end (As this is a bloody long post) with one of Scotland's great cultural artifacts. Really, the paramount of all human civilisation has been achieved. Thousands of years of history have led to its creation. What we are still running around for, I do not know. For yes, I speak of non other than the DEEP FRIED MARS BAR!
...and no, it is not a penis, as some have suggested...:)