Taking in Pisa en route to Florence

 As we were already in the Cinque Terre and couldn't check into our Airbnb until late afternoon we decided to check out Pisa and Lucca! Why not!!

The Leaning Tower always looks as though it is quite tall.... the reality is that it is not! As not many people are there as tourists at the moment finding parking in the closest parking was easy!

Having done the Pisa tourist site we then went on to explore further into the city....

and  having heard that Keith Haring had done a mural  Tuttomondo we determined to find it!

Then on to Lucca....with its narrow streets and converted Roman amphitheatre!

Finally we arrived at our very stylish Airbnb in Florence!

A weekend in the Cinque Terre.....

 Before going to Florence for a few weeks we decided to spend a weekend in the Cinque Terre!

As it was Ferragosto the choice of accommodation was limited... however the Agriturismo Aria Design in Levanto was great! Just a short walk from the train station and a very manageable walk to all restaurants in the town! It also had a pool, very welcome in 30 degree weather!

Dinner the first night was at the  Antico Borgo restaurant which was good.......  however on the way down we discovered the great local Bar Levanto for aperativos..... and then grappa on the return! It was frequented every evening!!

On the first morning we walked down to the port to take one of the few morning ferries.... 

....which went to all villages of the Cinque Terre.

First stop for the ferry.... Vernazza...

Then passed Corniglia.... which is without a port!

Then Manarola.....

Then Riomaggiore...

Then on to the port of Portovenere  where the entry has been  guarded by the Chiesa di San Pietro from 1198!.

where we needed to change boats for a trip around the islands...

 ...having lunch on the front was very inviting.....before a visit to the old town......

Afterwards a short ferry ride to the first village going north... Rio Maggiore 

After wandering around we took the train back to Levanto........

Dinner was at the Gattabriga restaurant. Food was excellent.... highly recommend. 

The local wine was also great!

The town was definitely not quiet after dinner..... music in the air!

The following day was a visit to Vernazza....one of the more touristy destinations in the area......

Lunch was at the Belforte restaurant...... with a superb view of the port, which was always busy!

Ferries going in and out.......

and lots of movement in the port...

Then back to our Agriturismo for a swim! Pizza was a welcome change for the evening!

An overnight trip to see a glacier lagoon in Iceland!

Having heard of the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon I was determined to see it. I thought it would be a day trip! However it is 380kms from Reykjavik! And so was advised to stay a night in the area.

On the way we did stop to see some other points of interest....waterfalls and waterfalls!

Then on to an area where one could go for a glacier hike... not me!

Next stop a black beach with interesting basalt columns.... 

...where we spent a lot of time looking for the elusive puffin... which appears on all touristy gifts! We did finally see one and were able to then move on!

We arrived at the glacier lagoon late evening and had a quick look just in case it rained in the morning!  

We stayed at a small B&B... simple but it had the advantage of just being 15mins from the lagoon.

As we were leaving in the morning we caught a view of a reindeer.... apparently rare to see.

The first stop was Diamond Beach... so named because a lot of the icebergs ended up there on black sand. Very photogenic!

Finally what we had come for.....to go out on a boat onto the lagoon and look at icebergs close-up.....

A seal hitching a ride!

On the way back to Reykjavik we had beautiful views of the glacier...plus a lot of lupins!