Cinque Terre: The Italian Riviera
Day 3: We were headed northwest out of Florence. We skirted the foothills of the Apuan Alps as we made our way into the southern most part of the Liguaria region and the small town of Levanto. We got off our motorcoach here, grabbed our bags, and took the train through the tunnels leading to Cinque Terre, the legendary string of cliff-hugging villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea. We stayed in the town of Monterosso al Mare. Our entire time in Cinque Terre is our own. A small group of us took off with our RS guide Martin and took the Orario Dei Battelli boat south past Vernazza and Corniglia and got off in the village of Manarola. After walking around Manarola, I tagged along with Martin for the short train ride to Vernazza. He showed me the local sights and la vita pigra de Vernazza (the lazy life of Vernazza) before heading back on the train to Monterosso. We all gathered this evening for dinner at a local family restaurant to enjoy fresh pesto and pasta. YUM!
Day 4: Today I took a "vacation from my vacation". I slept in, then enjoyed the view from my balcony at Villa Steno. Afterwards I took a leisurely walk through the Centro Storico (Old Town) exploring the stairways and alleyways. I stimulated the local economy with a little shopping in the small businesses of the pastel colored buildings. I decided to sit down and have a quiet lunch for one: caprese salad and a tasty bruschetta pomodoro. One glass into a 1/2 litre of red wine I pulled out my journal and wrote.There was a bench across from me against a pink pastel wall. (See the photo in my gallery). It got my creativity flowing. I wondered about the people from around the world who had come and sat on that bench. So I wrote. I had a wonderful day. Feeling relaxed, and with a smile on my face that I could not surpress, I walked on throughout the village. In the Piazza Garibaldi I found these two adorable, and very flirtatious, older local gentlemen. (They say that flirting is a form of art in Italy). I sat and talked with them for a bit. They asked where I was from, and if I was enjoying my time in their village. Soon it was time for me meet others for dinner. But I walked away smiling as the two called out "Cioa bella". If only they were 20 years younger.
Click the "Play" button below for a slideshow.
Day 4: Today I took a "vacation from my vacation". I slept in, then enjoyed the view from my balcony at Villa Steno. Afterwards I took a leisurely walk through the Centro Storico (Old Town) exploring the stairways and alleyways. I stimulated the local economy with a little shopping in the small businesses of the pastel colored buildings. I decided to sit down and have a quiet lunch for one: caprese salad and a tasty bruschetta pomodoro. One glass into a 1/2 litre of red wine I pulled out my journal and wrote.There was a bench across from me against a pink pastel wall. (See the photo in my gallery). It got my creativity flowing. I wondered about the people from around the world who had come and sat on that bench. So I wrote. I had a wonderful day. Feeling relaxed, and with a smile on my face that I could not surpress, I walked on throughout the village. In the Piazza Garibaldi I found these two adorable, and very flirtatious, older local gentlemen. (They say that flirting is a form of art in Italy). I sat and talked with them for a bit. They asked where I was from, and if I was enjoying my time in their village. Soon it was time for me meet others for dinner. But I walked away smiling as the two called out "Cioa bella". If only they were 20 years younger.
Click the "Play" button below for a slideshow.