The Cinque Terre
With the stop in Lucca complete, it was time to head on to the Cinque Terre. Remember those tight winding roads that I mentioned before? Exhibit A as to why you let the professionals drive. I don't think that little bit of rope is gonna help.
The Cinque Terre is a series of 5 towns that dot the Italian coastline. They are all connected by a rail line and otherwise hard to access by car or nearly impossible by bus. The train makes it easy to get from town to town. Our bus driver dropped our group off at a train station in Levanto. We then boarded a train for a quick ride to Monterosso where our hotel was.
Travel Tip: The trains in the Cinque Terre can be very crowded depending on the time of day. Give yourself extra time to get to the platform before the scheduled arrival time. There will be a crowd and the trains will already be packed. Also check the large boards at the station before you go explore the local town. It will tell you the arrival/departure schedule. Pro Tip: Snap a photo with your phone of the timetables. It will come in useful when you are ready to depart each city.
When you exit the train station in Monterosso, you are transported to another world. I was not expecting this at all. The ocean is literally a few feet away. The station was nestled into the coastline. The roar of the waves crashing on the beach and the smell of the ocean was incredible.
After a short walk we arrived at our hotel where we would spend the next couple of nights soaking up the Italian Riviera.
That night we enjoyed a romantic dinner just the two of us at a quaint restaurant with seating outdoors along a very narrow street. The ocean breeze blowing up the tight winding passageways.
Day 6 - The Cinque Terra
We started the day with breakfast at our hotel. There were no planned tour activities today and we could do whatever we wanted. We were free to explore the Cinque Terre. Prior to the tour we had heard about a Monastery and cemetery that were built atop the old fortress that used to protect the city. Winding up amazing stairways and paths we made our way to the cliffside above the city.
When we reached the top, we were treated to this view. Well worth the effort of the climb.
Travel Tip: Gelato: An interesting thing happened on the tour. When I sat down and started looking at the nearly 1000 photos, I took on the tour, I found absolutely zero photos of either one of us eating gelato. At first, I was like dang, I missed that. Then I started thinking about it. Eating gelato was an experience in Italy. There was no time to take photos! We had gelato at least once per day (sometimes twice). We would try all the various flavors and look for the best places to buy it. Pro Tip: Look for the dull color places, these will be the ones who use real fruit instead of artificial fruit flavoring with bright food coloring. There is nothing better than eating gelato in Italy on some random bench soaking up the European air. In case you were wondering what our favorite flavors were, we both loved the dull brown colored pistachio. Don't be fooled by the bright green version. It's "non buono"!
After spending the morning exploring Monterosso, we took the train to Vernazza for lunch and a little sightseeing.
Each town in the Cinque Terre has its own unique charm and character. Vernazza is smaller and more picturesque, with a cozy harbor surrounded by colorful houses and a medieval castle towering above. We enjoyed the scenic coastal views and relaxed in one of the town's many outdoor cafes, savoring local delicacies like fresh anchovies or pesto pasta. Just kidding, we had pizza.
We headed back to Monterosso and Amy did some sketching as I ate gelato while people watching.
The town came alive as the locals emerged from their shops and homes after the throngs of tourists had left for the day. It was a neat experience to see how the locals live their life in such a different way. A group of school children arrived at the gelato shop on their bikes. You could tell that the woman running the shop was the mother of one of the children. Interacting warmly with them and doling out gelato to the group.
The town came alive as the locals emerged from their shops and homes after the throngs of tourists had left for the day. It was a neat experience to see how the locals live their life in such a different way. A group of school children arrived at the gelato shop on their bikes. You could tell that the woman running the shop was the mother of one of the children. Interacting warmly with them and doling out gelato to the group.
That evening we would enjoy a seafood feast with our group at Ristorante Belvedere as we wound up our time in the Italian Riviera. The ambiance and food were fitting of the seaside. The restaurant was located just feet from the ocean and the catch of the day was on the menu. The staff brought out the meal in large pots and poured them out at each table. Yes, I believe that is octopus! Our guide Andrea was from Sicily and he was so excited about this meal. It reminded him of home.
Our Must-Do's in the Cinque Terre
Amy's : Take the hike up to the monastery above the city. Take in the colorful homes in the city below. Spend time with your significant other!
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Rick's: Relax. Don't make a plan. Just let the day unfold and see what you find. You won't be disappointed. Soak up the atmosphere of the Italian Riviera.
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