As our internet service in Cinque Terre was spotty, and then blogger went down there is a lot we missed mentioning the last few days.
We arrived at our little B&B, Villa Cristina, and were greeted by Cristina (who looked no older then 12 I might add).
We unpacked the car, and headed into town. We walked through New Town which wasn't much, through the tunnel to old town where the marina, shopping, more hotels and restaurants are. We found a great little place to have lunch right on the beach overlooking the water.
Cinque Terre has it's own wine. A grape variety that is only grown in Cinque Terre as is labeled as a DOC. We gave their house white a shot. If only we could order house white at home, and have it taste like this. After we lunch, we headed our boat tour I mentioned in the earlier post. It was so much fun. Paula had an absolutely amazing spread prepared (she needs to open a restaurant). We set off with a couple and their daughter from TO, a couple from LA, and another couple from Alabama. Angelo set the boat on autopilot and headed to the back to open up a bottle or two of prosecco for us. We viewed each of the 5 towns from the water (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggorie), and before we turned around to head back Angelo brought out fresh marinated sword fish and grilled it right on the boat for us. We headed into the sunset back to the marina.
Paula was there to greet us, and make sure everyone had a nice time. She sent us on our way to a place locals go for wine. Six of us headed that way; however, it is closed on Tuesdays (Rick Steves knew that).
Side Bar - The Americans on the trip introduced us to Rick Steves. They said that his guide/travel books are the best. We peeked around in the one they had and the details were amazingly organized. Which places you will not get into without a reso, which places are open and closed when. Great details on how to get everywhere - 14 steps to the left from the train station...
Anyway, we all squeezed into a booth at a restaurant across the street instead. Cinque Terre is a pretty sleepy place, and from what we understand we were in the "happening" town compared to the other four. Nothing is open past midnight, and even after ten the streets are empty, and only few places bother to stay open. It's a nice change of pace.
We unpacked the car, and headed into town. We walked through New Town which wasn't much, through the tunnel to old town where the marina, shopping, more hotels and restaurants are. We found a great little place to have lunch right on the beach overlooking the water.
Cinque Terre has it's own wine. A grape variety that is only grown in Cinque Terre as is labeled as a DOC. We gave their house white a shot. If only we could order house white at home, and have it taste like this. After we lunch, we headed our boat tour I mentioned in the earlier post. It was so much fun. Paula had an absolutely amazing spread prepared (she needs to open a restaurant). We set off with a couple and their daughter from TO, a couple from LA, and another couple from Alabama. Angelo set the boat on autopilot and headed to the back to open up a bottle or two of prosecco for us. We viewed each of the 5 towns from the water (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggorie), and before we turned around to head back Angelo brought out fresh marinated sword fish and grilled it right on the boat for us. We headed into the sunset back to the marina.
Paula was there to greet us, and make sure everyone had a nice time. She sent us on our way to a place locals go for wine. Six of us headed that way; however, it is closed on Tuesdays (Rick Steves knew that).
Side Bar - The Americans on the trip introduced us to Rick Steves. They said that his guide/travel books are the best. We peeked around in the one they had and the details were amazingly organized. Which places you will not get into without a reso, which places are open and closed when. Great details on how to get everywhere - 14 steps to the left from the train station...
Anyway, we all squeezed into a booth at a restaurant across the street instead. Cinque Terre is a pretty sleepy place, and from what we understand we were in the "happening" town compared to the other four. Nothing is open past midnight, and even after ten the streets are empty, and only few places bother to stay open. It's a nice change of pace.
The next morning we woke up and headed for the trail. You can walk between the towns, and if you googled Cinque Terre as I suggested, you will see this is no easy task. What we didn't know is the section we chose to do was the most difficult. It was not a stroll, or even a changing walk, it was a hike. It took us just under 2 hours as the pathway is busy with people going in both directions. There are some sections where the trail is no more then a foot (a foot and a half max) wide and you've got to pass people going the other way. Hmmmm this is sounding a lot like the roads of Italy. After making it successfully to Vernazza (the town next to Monterosso) we jumped on the train to Riomaggiore for lunch. We had some outstanding seafood - the mixed fish appetizer, and it came out with 6-8 different fish cooked different ways. MMM-MM!
Photo: Example of the "paths" on the hike
Photo: View of Vernazza just before descending down the mountain from our hike.
The next morning we started by taking the train to Riomaggiore to do the Via dell' Amore (walk of love). This was like a board walk compared to what we had done the day before. This walk takes you from Riomaggiore to Manarola. We were going to continue on to one more town, but part of the pathway between Manarola and Corniglia had been washed away. So again we opt for the train, and take that to Corniglia. Corniglia is the only town that is not located on the water. There is a small bus that takes you up the hill to the town, or you can walk 413 stairs straight up the mountain. We chose the bus on the way up and the stairs on the way down.
We didn't stay long as all either one of us could think about was headed to the beach for the rest of the day.
We ended up back at the place that Paula had recommended that was closed for the second night in a row. The name has left me for the moment, but Mary and her husband were great and had a wonderful selection of wines from all over Italy.
www.villa-cristina.net
Photo: Example of the "paths" on the hike
Photo: View of Vernazza just before descending down the mountain from our hike.
The next morning we started by taking the train to Riomaggiore to do the Via dell' Amore (walk of love). This was like a board walk compared to what we had done the day before. This walk takes you from Riomaggiore to Manarola. We were going to continue on to one more town, but part of the pathway between Manarola and Corniglia had been washed away. So again we opt for the train, and take that to Corniglia. Corniglia is the only town that is not located on the water. There is a small bus that takes you up the hill to the town, or you can walk 413 stairs straight up the mountain. We chose the bus on the way up and the stairs on the way down.
We didn't stay long as all either one of us could think about was headed to the beach for the rest of the day.
We ended up back at the place that Paula had recommended that was closed for the second night in a row. The name has left me for the moment, but Mary and her husband were great and had a wonderful selection of wines from all over Italy.
www.villa-cristina.net
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