La Spezia, is known as the gateway to Cinque Terre which is the area we have been traveling to from Venice.

We left La Spezia in the morning around 10:00 am, it was already hot when we arrived back to the rail depot to catch the local train which goes through

Cinque Terre. The name means the five towns, an apt description for this group of five quaint and unique towns clinging to the cliffs above the mediterranean and just below the mountainous parkland of Monte Negro. We stayed on the train to Montrosso, the fifth town, as the train unintentionally skipped the second town we were going to try to stay in.It ended up working for the best, we got a nice beach front hotel with a fantastic view of the sea, with it’s aquamarine splendor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today became a departure from the adventure of the last few days and the hustle bustle feel of the rest. It was a day of relaxing on the beach and swimming in the warm waters.We rented a kayak for a while

 

 

 

 

 

and later explored the town, which is still rebuilding itself following flooding and

mudslides from last October/November.

We ate dinner around 7:30 pm which seems a bit early for the local population. Wether it’s due to the heat or the length of the day, most people seem to eat dinner between 9:00 and 10:00 here. Had myself some ravioli and a caprese salad.

Our early dinner gave us some time before sundown so we hopped a train for the next town over, Vernazza, but instead the train gave Vernazza and Corniglio amiss and when straight through to Riomaggiore. Riomaggiore is more residential than most, but we decided to just go with it. Each town is here in Cinque Terre is unique, in this town the buildings are built taller with narrow streets and cobble stone steps which ascend the steep rock cliffside. At the top by the ruins of a small castle outpost, turned into a clock tower, we were treated to a great view of the sunset.

After this, we took the train back and headed off to bed.

Side note, our hotel is awesome with one exception, they decided to use ultra low voltage lighting. In the day it’s almost impossible to see that there on and at night, you would be hard pressed to read by them. I mean who does that? Everything else is nice, is it really worth a few dollars to cheapen the whole experience? Also, I will try to post more pictures as requested but my data is limited and the wifi is hard to come by here.

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