Cinque Terra

Walking through the hills of the Lingure were four people. Telling jokes, well really shaggy dog stories because they take more time and create a greater distraction, do you know the one about Mrs Pink and her B&B with Mr Brown etc, or the one about the pink ping pong balls (perhaps a bit more obscure). Once these were done it was then time to move onto the riddles (hanging men, sunburnt arms and jack & jill). All of this through magnificent scenery… olive groves strung with nets catching the black olives as they fall, the occasional small vineyard, groves of oaks and pines, and all the hillsides weeping with terraces. As you round a corner you are meet with a another fantastic view down the Cinque Terre coast, rugged cliff sides, cactus and aloe vera clinging for life to any cranny they can find. A 7km walk in all, up hill and down, I start to understand the feat you achieved, Gitti, earlier this year.

This was the start of the second day of our time here. On the first day we caught the train to Riomaggiore and explored the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia. Each with it’s own unique personality, but all resplendent with houses stacked up the cliff faces in shades ochre, blue and yellow. Linking these towns we walked the paths, the first of which is called the Via della Amore. A half tunnel part way along the tunnel is decorated with a mixture of modern frescos and graffiti, sometimes hard to tell the difference. Within the tunnel we come across a busker playing Sinatra songs, much comfort to the many American tourists who have made there way to this slice of paradise.

It really has been a fantastic couple of days, partly damped, well literally damped by the rain that started part way through the afternoon today, ensuring a quicker visit Monte Rossa and Vernazza, but still, sitting in the Gellatria and Pizzeria with ice cream, coffee and pizza is not too bad, even with a bit of a drizzle.

Tomorrow we leave Cinque Terre, but could have spent a month exploring the alley ways… Pisa bound.