From the sea

It's quite a different view of Cinque Terre from the sea. Lots of boats go up and down the coast, making it easy to get on and off at the various towns.

And we couldn't miss out on a fishy lunch. Here Bob finishes off his anchovies while I had the stuffed calamari, below.

 

Patchwork

Interesting to finally find a 'patchwork' shop- this one on the main street of Riomaggiore, but selling made up "country style" animals and small patched goods. I kept seeing the items in the tourist offices and various outlets in the other towns, so business must be good.

 

Our grotto

Our Cinque Terre accommodation was interesting to say the least! We had a cave for the shower area. Here Bob is checking the rock type.

The ceilings were old timbers and the lower floor situation of the apartment meant we had very bad damp/mould smells throughout it. The white paint had been painted over the mould but it still stank!
 

Manarola

Coming from a land of wide sandy beaches we are constantly amazed at where people will perch or spread out for sun bathing. This is the Manarola boat ramp.

And this is the town from the rocky headland viewing point.

Corniglia

Got the train to Corniglia. This was an experience because it was a Sunday and every man and his dog were out to visit the 5 towns. We have never been packed so tightly into a train before!

Up the zigzag of steps to reach this village on the top of the hill. There is a small bus too. We had delicious gelati and watched the time pass in the small square. Then back down the steps to the train station.

The prickly pear cactus was flowering.
 

Coastal walk

We went to Cinque Terre to complete the coastal walks, but unfortunately most of the tracks close to the ocean were closed. The only one open was from Monterosso to Vernazza, or visa versa and there is a charge involved. It was a beautiful sunny day and soon got hot with the many vertical steps, up and over the ridges. Grape vines dot the hills and the farmers have help to get around with motorised transport on a single track.

Need a head for heights!

The scenery is stunning and the ocean very blue.

Looking back to where we had come from and then forward, below, with Vernazza just coming into view.

Sometimes when walking on tracks in Indonesia we have encountered drink sellers, which would have been very welcome, but instead we were greeted by a jeweller.

 

 

Monterosso

At the other end of the Cinque Terre coast from Riomaggiore is Monterosso and it was interesting to look at the differences between the small public beach areas and the larger pay beach areas.

Foreground- public beach while background is pay area.

 

Riomaggoire

Some glimpses of colourful Riomaggoire, one of the Cinque Terre towns and where we based ourselves for a few days. The streets are steep and a tunnel from the rail station leads you into the main part of town. This photo is near the little harbour and it is easier to appreciate the jumbled up nature of the buildings in these small, tucked away towns.

There was a flat area for children to play and this bright painting dominated the area.