Blogs from Liguria, Italy, Europe - page 5

Last breakfast on our roof top terrace before checking out and heading to the train station. We were scheduled to get the train at 9:50 to Levanto, where would change for a train to Santa Margherita. Of course our train arrived a few minutes late which meant we need to move quickly at Levanto to ensure we got our connection. We did well and had no problems getting to Santa Margherita. We arrived around 11:10 so decided we would walk the 15 minutes to the hotel, rather than get a taxi. It was actually a very pleasant walk as it was mostly flat, except for the downhill portion coming out of the train station area. The walk took us along the boardwalk of the marina and straight away Janine and I knew we were going to ... read more

Happy birthday to my sister Clare and nephew Harry! We enjoyed our breakfast this morning, sitting on the roof top terrace of our hotel. We got organized then started our hike to Vernazza. We knew today would be the hardest walk and had decided we would walk to the first town and then spend some time there before heading onto the next town later in the afternoon. We definitely underestimated how hard the walk would be in parts - the first part was just constant steps up for quite a long time! The weather was very hot too, which made it more challenging. There were times when we were walking through forrests and that was quite pleasant - these were the times we managed to chat in a more positive tone ?. There were so many ... read more

The railway station is in the new town of Ventimiglia, which was characteristically regular, orderly and grid-like. A short walk brings you to a foot bridge across the fast flowing River Roia which surges into the sea at this location. Across the bridge you are into the precincts of the old town that sits about 200 m above the new town area but has none of its regimented order. After Nice and Monte Carlo the Old Town of Ventimiglia makes a bold contrast. It is evidently retaining its traditional identity and is obviously winning the battle against gentrification. To some extent, it presents as an Anti-Eze. There is nothing particularly scrubbed or manicured for tourist consumption in his town. In comparison, this is a place that people actually live; where locals nurse coffees outside small cafés, ... read more

An American breakfast was desired...and great. Mike was dying for some buttered toast ...so pane con burro e marmallato was on order. All delicioso. On to a poncho covered day in Riomaggiore and Manarola...some brief respites from rainy drizzle...and hot water. Our Villa water heater went kaput ( or however you say that in Italian). It's back but I still haven't showered. We learned to be local on the trains... No one pays. Gelato, a cone of fried baccala (cod), shrimp, crab, calamari, and veggies as snacks. Mike tried his first Italian hot dog for lunch and loved it - quite a bit different than the American kind. Because of the bad weather the boats were pulled out of the sea in both towns that we visited. It's such an effort that the entire townspeople - ... read more

Crazy high up in town of little alleyways and many locals. The first pic is from our terrace! Hikers abound too as does seafood and once again...it's italy...steps and stairs and climbs and hills. My.legs hurt tonight in our new abode for a few days... Corniglia, town #3 of 5 in the Cinque Terre. The small town much lower than us in one of the last pictures is Manarola...as seen from our town Corniglia. Tomorrow we hike more...to Vernazza and monterroso, and riomaggiore and Manarola.... read more