Cinque Terre
We had an early start to get back to the campground and catch the bus from Florence to go to Cinque Terre. On our way we had a photo shoot stop at the leaning tower of Pisa. There really isn't much else to do at Pisa other than seeing the tower. The tower is now reinforced and you can no longer climb on it but it was great to see. Its much larger than I expected and upon seeing the foundations you really can see how much it does lean. Sitting under the tree and watching the number of people taking photo's to hold it up, push it down, karate chop it, along with other stuff was an amusing way to spend the time we had here!!
It was then back to the bus and on the way to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a coastal town in Italy which is made up of 5 small villages each with their own individuality and walking paths have been set up to walk between them - 12 km in all. We arrived late morning which allowed us plenty of time to head to the first village, Riomaggiore for lunch at a bit of a walk/hike. We loaded up on carbohydrates (nice pasta) then headed up toward a track that would take us to a church at the top of a hill for what we expected would be pretty great coastal views. I'll just set the scene a bit, it was a hot day, about 35 degrees celsius and about what felt like 80% humidity and we decide to hike a mountain.... The very helpful staff at the information offices (not) explained that the paths are all very well signposted and you wouldn't have any problems finding the track, I asked in what I thought was my good Italian if they are posted with green signs (that we had seen on the way to the path) Yes was the reply. For anyone that visits, I'll just let you know that they are the red and white signs that you find painted on rocks every so often, oh and maybe an arrow, that doesn't tell you where its taking you. For the record we did make it to the top of the hill to the church for some very nice views and a nice breeze under the tree, but I gotta say, it was hard work. After making it down we decided to walk the first part of the walking trail from the first village of Riogmaggiore to Monarola because its the shortest and easiest - only took about half an hour... although it took us a little longer because they had this cool little cafe sitting out over the water where we enjoyed a glass of wine and just enjoyed where we were. The walking trails between the villages are also much better sign posted and used than the hiking trails. Once reaching Manarola it was dinner time so we had a meal there. We headed back exhausted to La Spezzia where we were staying for the evening and went for a stroll in the town and found a very nice gelateria run by a lovely couple at retirement age who make their own gelati and are very generous with their scoops, it was one of the nicest gelato's we had. My mouth waters just remembering it....
The following day we decided to walk the most popular walking route, to and through all the villages. We started at the last town, Monterosso. We could tell you we were avoiding the crowds that all start from the closest town, but the truth is we accidently caught the express train and thats where it dropped us off!
As well at hiking between each village we did want to enjoy some time at each village as well, and planned that we had a drink or meal at each one. The trail from Monterosso to Vernazza was the hardest, many steps, steep in areas so glad we did that first. It took about two hours with some really spectacular views and we were ready for a rest and a really nice wood oven pizza at the local pizzeria! Filled with energy again we headed toward the next village of Corniglia which took about an hour and we rewarded ourselves after this trek with a glass of local Limoncello. Nice and refreshing. It was served in these really cool glasses that you can keep in the freezer that keep the Limoncello cold. We asked where we could buy some and the girl told us they were having trouble getting them themselves. We asked if we could buy some of theirs but they were down to their last 8 because people kept stealing them. Fortunately for us we found some on our travels.
From Corniglia we went to the next village of Monarola, as you approach Monarola you are greeted with the picture postard of the colourful village with little boats in the harbour (its on a lot of the Cinque Terre postcards) and was just gorgeous. We had eaten at Monarola the night before so we just wandered around the shops and bought ourselves a local bottle of Limoncello for us to enjoy at a nightcap!
Returning to Monterosso (by train) to complete our adventure to have a meal or drink at each village, we had dinner - unfortunately it was one of the worst lasagnas Steve had ever had (never as good as Mum's or Steve's) - lucky the Chianti was nice.
Back at La Spezzia we found our gelateria again for some dessert and decided to get a bottle of Chianti to enjoy together and here began a mission. We just missed the supermakets closing time (yep all over Europe they sell beer, wine and spirits in supermarkets for the most unbelieveably cheap prices)... we must have gone to about a dozen places looking for a bottle of Chianti. The only places were restaurants and it wasn't until we gave up an hour or so later that we saw this tiny deli, which was not only still open but with one 4 euro bottle of Chianti sitting on their shelf. Of course we had no glasses so the helpful shop owner gave us the only thing she had - little plastic medicine cups that hold about 2 shots worth. And since it was such a warm night we found a nice bench to drink it - we did receive some strange looks from people as we were pouring the wine into the little cups on the street bench - probably not the way Italians usually enjoy their wine - but we're on holidays :-)
L&S
It was then back to the bus and on the way to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a coastal town in Italy which is made up of 5 small villages each with their own individuality and walking paths have been set up to walk between them - 12 km in all. We arrived late morning which allowed us plenty of time to head to the first village, Riomaggiore for lunch at a bit of a walk/hike. We loaded up on carbohydrates (nice pasta) then headed up toward a track that would take us to a church at the top of a hill for what we expected would be pretty great coastal views. I'll just set the scene a bit, it was a hot day, about 35 degrees celsius and about what felt like 80% humidity and we decide to hike a mountain.... The very helpful staff at the information offices (not) explained that the paths are all very well signposted and you wouldn't have any problems finding the track, I asked in what I thought was my good Italian if they are posted with green signs (that we had seen on the way to the path) Yes was the reply. For anyone that visits, I'll just let you know that they are the red and white signs that you find painted on rocks every so often, oh and maybe an arrow, that doesn't tell you where its taking you. For the record we did make it to the top of the hill to the church for some very nice views and a nice breeze under the tree, but I gotta say, it was hard work. After making it down we decided to walk the first part of the walking trail from the first village of Riogmaggiore to Monarola because its the shortest and easiest - only took about half an hour... although it took us a little longer because they had this cool little cafe sitting out over the water where we enjoyed a glass of wine and just enjoyed where we were. The walking trails between the villages are also much better sign posted and used than the hiking trails. Once reaching Manarola it was dinner time so we had a meal there. We headed back exhausted to La Spezzia where we were staying for the evening and went for a stroll in the town and found a very nice gelateria run by a lovely couple at retirement age who make their own gelati and are very generous with their scoops, it was one of the nicest gelato's we had. My mouth waters just remembering it....
The following day we decided to walk the most popular walking route, to and through all the villages. We started at the last town, Monterosso. We could tell you we were avoiding the crowds that all start from the closest town, but the truth is we accidently caught the express train and thats where it dropped us off!
As well at hiking between each village we did want to enjoy some time at each village as well, and planned that we had a drink or meal at each one. The trail from Monterosso to Vernazza was the hardest, many steps, steep in areas so glad we did that first. It took about two hours with some really spectacular views and we were ready for a rest and a really nice wood oven pizza at the local pizzeria! Filled with energy again we headed toward the next village of Corniglia which took about an hour and we rewarded ourselves after this trek with a glass of local Limoncello. Nice and refreshing. It was served in these really cool glasses that you can keep in the freezer that keep the Limoncello cold. We asked where we could buy some and the girl told us they were having trouble getting them themselves. We asked if we could buy some of theirs but they were down to their last 8 because people kept stealing them. Fortunately for us we found some on our travels.
From Corniglia we went to the next village of Monarola, as you approach Monarola you are greeted with the picture postard of the colourful village with little boats in the harbour (its on a lot of the Cinque Terre postcards) and was just gorgeous. We had eaten at Monarola the night before so we just wandered around the shops and bought ourselves a local bottle of Limoncello for us to enjoy at a nightcap!
Returning to Monterosso (by train) to complete our adventure to have a meal or drink at each village, we had dinner - unfortunately it was one of the worst lasagnas Steve had ever had (never as good as Mum's or Steve's) - lucky the Chianti was nice.
Back at La Spezzia we found our gelateria again for some dessert and decided to get a bottle of Chianti to enjoy together and here began a mission. We just missed the supermakets closing time (yep all over Europe they sell beer, wine and spirits in supermarkets for the most unbelieveably cheap prices)... we must have gone to about a dozen places looking for a bottle of Chianti. The only places were restaurants and it wasn't until we gave up an hour or so later that we saw this tiny deli, which was not only still open but with one 4 euro bottle of Chianti sitting on their shelf. Of course we had no glasses so the helpful shop owner gave us the only thing she had - little plastic medicine cups that hold about 2 shots worth. And since it was such a warm night we found a nice bench to drink it - we did receive some strange looks from people as we were pouring the wine into the little cups on the street bench - probably not the way Italians usually enjoy their wine - but we're on holidays :-)
L&S
posted by Steve & Lina at
11:13 AM
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