Alaska here we come!

It's a lovely sunny (warm) day in Vancouver, and we take two hours to embark The Norwegian Sun ship  and set sail for Alaska.  it's a bucket list journey for me.  We have booked a train ride through Yukon gold rush territory, snow shoe walking, a helicopter ride to see the glaciers, landing on a glacier, and dog sledding.

Glorious scenery ...Alpine firs line the hills, mountains and even the islands.  Snow capped mountains promise of Alaska ...

Our first night at sea, a wonderful sunset, spectacular sky....and clouds...

The second day is cold, with snow capped mountain scenery.  Rob and I walk around the outside walking/jogging track a few times for exercise, with a chilly wind biting into us.

Watching out for whales, we see some later...

Glorious to watch the scenery from the aft deck.  

We turn into the Tracy Arm Fjord to see our first glacier.

Incredible waterfalls up to 6000 feet tumble into the sea..

We are amazed by how blue the icebergs look...

Our first glimpse of the glacier, it looks like a sheet of glass from far.  We can't get close because the channel is too narrow and the seals are calving.

Zooming in for a closer pic of The Sawyer glacier- very exciting to see, but we are too far away to hear the ice crack.

We arrive in Skagway tomorrow ... Train ride through the Yukon and snow shoe walking here we come!

Our last day in Italy

Our last day in the Cinque Terre, so we walk up from Monterosso to Santuario Di Nostra Signora Di Saviore Monastry , famous for its round faced Madonna....at the top with splendid views once again.

On the way we pass lemon orchards - wish I could bring an Italian  lemon tree back with me.  From small they are laden with fruit.

View from the monastery

The church- truly beautiful, old frescoes on walls and ceilings, beautiful chandeliers 

The round faced Madonna

The frescoes are not repaired.  

We leave our Cinque Terre guesthouse, la Casa Andrea sadly - such vibrant colours

Good bye to Carola who has looked afte us so well

Train change over at Pisa, and we walk through the city to check out the tower...

Fascinating story- building started in 1172 and the tilt began from the 2 nd floor in 1178- and after that all the floors were built with one side taller than the other to compensate for the tilt, so actually the tower is curved! it took 199 years to build, completed in 1372. 

The tower has been leaning for 840 years.... A similar tower collapsed in 1989 so this is the reason between 1990 and 2001  has there been structural strengthening.  There is one tower in Germany that leans more than Pisa... But who knows about this...

Such exquisite marble facade and details, it takes ones breath away.

 

And we land home for 5 weeks... Just enough time to get ready for our next adventure.....

Lovely to have had people following and commenting- we feel blessed and filled with gratitude for this time to explore beautiful places and spaces.   May we lift a few hearts and inspire others to follow what matters.

Another walk, my favourite, from Verrnazza to Corniglia, wonderful vistas everywhere

We leave Vernazza, described as the prettiest of the five hamlets.  Drunken-sailor buildings lean against each other, hanging on .....

In the dry stone wall a shrine of Mary.  I love the reminders of religion or rather for me, the mother, in the middle of the walk, she's everywhere in this beautiful place, bountiful and generous 

Isn't this a fabulous view of Vernazza- postcard perfect

It's an easy walk with much of the walk protected with good railing.

The trail is busier, the season has just begun.

And there is Corniglia - you can see that this hamlet is 100 Metres above sea level.

My heart belongs in Corniglia..

We are getting closer to the hamlet

We stop for a bite and a cold glass of wine at the prettiest bar.

I love their philosophy!

I start with the local Limonata, made from the lemons which grow everywhere, it's refreshing and delicious.

Lunch!

The prettiest, kitcheist shops...

Enchanting stairways

The flowers are a delight.

Gelato! Everyone eats Gelato, all day, everyday, people walk around the hamlets with cones or cups.

Why resist?

Driftwood is used as decorations everywhere in the streets.

We walk to a look out point and Rob has a fit when I take this photo... What if I drop my camera...?

The ferry boats have begun their trips betwee villages.  The tramontana wind has brought calm waters.

And this time we go down the 365 steps....

The crowds are too much for us.  We have been spoilt arriving "out of season". Everyone has come to the Cinque Terre over Easter...

Another drink and we head for home- Casa la Andrea.  It's been a fantastic base for us for 8 days.