Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Italy

Exploring Tuscany, Wine and Pisa

grape vines in Tuscany

We went for a day trip into the Tuscany country side. The scenery was amazing and the photos do not give it justice. We took a wine tour at a winery called Casa Emma  in the Chianti Classico Wine Region of Tuscany.

Sangiovese grapes in Tuscany
Shelley in the grape vines at the winery in Tuscany.

We explored  some of the scenic towns in the Tuscany region like Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa.  Our first stop was Siena which is a classic medieval town located in Tuscany.  The town is known for several interesting facts.. It has a large fan-shaped piazza which is the Piazza del Campo,. It is one of the location where the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace” was filmed.

The Piazza del Campo is also the location where they hold the bareback horse race for the Palio of Siena. It is one of the most popular and well-known  festivals in Italy. 

The Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Torre del Mangia in the piazza del Campo, Siena
The oldest operating bank in the world-The Monte dei Paschi di bank in Siera Italy

Siena is also home to the oldest operating bank in the world. It is called the Monte dei Paschi di and was founded in Siena in 1472.  The top of the bank’s facade was unique it has different heads carved and looking down on the plaza.

After Siena we went to explore the town of San Gimignano, known as the walled  medieval town of Beautiful Towers. The town overlooks the beautiful Tuscany countryside with rolling hills and wineries. San Gimignano is known for the 14 medieval towers that still exist today. 

View of the medieval walled town of San Gimignano

Inside the walled section of the town were shops, bars and restaurants. We walked throughout the area exploring the town. 

We came to an area that overlooks the countryside and valleys below. We stopped to admire the views of Tuscany.

A view of the Tuscany countryside from San Gimignano
San Gimignano with a view of some of the historic towers in the town.

After visiting San Gimignano we went to the city of Pisa, in northern Tuscany. It is known for the famous leaning tower, of Pisa.  We went to the Piazza dei Miracoli which  is a walled 8.87-hectare area located in Pisa. Inside the walls are the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistry, the Campanile and the leaning tower of Pisa. We are of course had to do the traditional photo for all tourist.

Shelley doing the traditional tourist photo.

The leaning tower was truly spectacular and we were in awe at just how white and beautiful it was. 

Shelley and Ray in front of the tower of Pisa
The Pisa Cathedral with the leaning tower of Pisa in the rear located in Piazza dei Miracoli
The facade of the Pisa Cathedral
A view from the base of the leaning tower of Pisa

This was one of the amazing pinch me moments we experienced during our time in Tuscany.  

“La vita stessa è un privilegio, ma vivere la vita al massimo, beh, questa è una scelta.”

Italy

Rome Italy

Rome for over a millennium was the centre of power and controlled most of the world. It has a complex and deep history, so we decided to take some time and explore this amazing city. We walked through many of the streets that had remnants of  Roman ruins and historic sites.  We were in awe at the richness of the history.  We went to the normal tourist sites like the Trevi Fountain. It is an 18th-century fountain in the Trevi district in Rome. It is very impressive standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide. This is the largest Baroque fountain in the city or Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
The Trevi Fountain in Rome
Shelley and Ray in front of the Trevi Fountain
The ornate statues in the Trevi Fountain in Rome
We also went to see the Spanish Steps which climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and  by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top. 
Spanish Steps in Rome

There was a police presence there and they were watching the tourist and keeping them from loitering too much or sitting down on the steps.

We of course had to walk up the 135 steps to the top. The view from the top of the Spanish Steps gave a nice view of Rome.
 
The view from the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome.
At the base of the Spanish Stairs is the  Fontana della Barcaccia .
The fountain of Barcaccia, which is fountain of the boat in Italian.
We walked to different piazzas and almost each one had amazing sites and statues. We  came to the National Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II which is also known as Altare della Patria meaning Altar of the Fatherland in english..
It is an amazing and impressive building located in the center of ancient Rome. 
The front of the National Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II

There are large statues and fountains along the building.

Side view of some of the statues at the National Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II
view of the Alter of the Fatherland statue as sun sets in Rome

All along the ancient centre of Rome are ruins, statues and remnants of the Roman empire.  

Shelley and Ray in front of Roman ruins
Arco di Costatino in Rome
Santa Maria Di Loreto in Rome with the Colonna Trajana in the foreground

We of course went to see the colosseum which was amazing and we will do a separate post on the colosseum. 

The colosseum of Rome
Castel San Angelo in Rome

These were beautiful and awe inspiring sites to see, but what we really enjoyed was the people and food of Rome. 

“L’esperienza è l’insegnante di tutte le cose.” – Julius Caesar

Spain

Els Arcs de Castell de Castells

We went exploring the area of the Arcs de Castell in the mountains approximately an hour or so from Alicante. The views along the road through the mountains were spectacular.

A view of some of the mountains along the way.

We came to a lookout area with a rest stop, so decided to take a break and enjoy the views.

Shelley enjoying the lookout in the mountains
The lookout at the rest stop.

There was even a small zip line and of course Ray could not resist trying it out.

Ray on the small zip line

After we enjoyed our stop we continued on to our destination. We arrived at the road that leads to the Arc de Castell. We began our hike up the road toward the arcs.

As we walked along the road it was so peaceful and quiet. We came along a very traditional style Spanish vila along the trail.

We walked approximately 8 kilometers and then started climbing up the mountain side. The road turned into a trail and then eventually into a small path. As we went it became steeper and more difficult.

Eventually we arrived at an area that was quite steep and looked a little unstable. At this point we decided to turn around and head back down the mountain. 

The Arcs de Castell

We worked our way back down and enjoyed the views along the way.  It was so quiet and there were no people around. We did not need to wear a mask and it almost felt like the pandemic was none existent. It was a great way to spend the day. 

“Disfruta cada momento”

Spain

Happy New Year and welcome 2022

Ray and Shelley at Fisterra Spain

2021 has been one tough year and we are glad to say that it is over. We now hope that 2022 will be a lot better and the world will find some sense of normal. We are making plans for some new and exciting adventures for this year. We hope to incorporate a lot more travel and to see more of our family and friends. Until then we want to simply wish everyone a very healthy, safe and Happy New Year.

We say good bye to 2021 with a few photos of our travels and adventures from the past year.

The view of the beach in Alicante in M
Ray and Shelley in a Winery in the Rioja Regions of Spain
Ray sitting on a chair of a statue of a shoe shine man in the town of Haro Spain
Shelley overlooking  a valley in the Rioja region of Spain
View of the town of Bastida in the region of Rioja.
The river of Ebro in the Rioja region of Spain
Shelley and Ray with fields of grape wines in Rioja region of Spain
Part of the fortified castle in the town of Sajazarra
Shelley with fresh Pomegranates picked from a wild tree in the mountains near Alicante
View of the sunset from our terrace in Alicante
Ray and Shelley at Christmas time 2021 in Alicante

“Feliz año nuevo y deseándote un próspero y seguro 2022”

 

Camino de Santiago, Spain

The final days of the Camino

I knew I had only a few days left to reach Santiago de Compostela and wanted to arrive early on the last day. Each morning I would get up very early and begin my camino at around 6AM. It was still dark and I would walk using a headlamp that helped me to see the trail. On the last day of the camino I started at 5:30 a.m. and noticed that there were some bats that were following me along the trail. They would sweep down in front of me.  At first I was not sure why they were flying so close to me then I noticed that they were catching the moths and bugs that were drawn to the light of my headlamp. The bats were enjoying a meal while we walked together on the trail. 

When I reached the final ten kilometres marker it seemed that it was extra long because I was excited to finish the camino. I wanted to see Shelley and rest up from the camino.

10 kms marker for the Camino de Santiago
Ray in front of a statue along the camino

When I got the the city it was a little different as you walk through the city before reaching the cathedral. I stopped at the iconic wall marker which people put memorials, photos etc at the marker.

Marker on the camino at Santiago de Compostela

I stopped and left my rock at the marker, giving thanks for all that I have had in life. Afterwards I continued along the camino until I reached cathedral de Santiago. It was an amazing feeling of joy to finally arrive but also a little sad knowing that the camino was completed.

Ray at the Cathedral de Santiago

At the end of the camino Shelley was waiting for me at the cathedral. We met up and celebrated the end of my camino and we enjoyed a few days exploring the city of Santiago de Compostela. 

¨buen Camino¨