CINQUE TERRE

A short stop in
PISA

&
two days in the

CINQUE TERRE

Dad and I left Florence to go to the Cinque Terre. Leslie and her Mom stayed put for a few more days. On the way to the coast we stopped in Pisa for a look at the famous tower.

There are people lined up along the sidewalks doing this. When in Pisa... A little mischief A view of a slice of the Campo dei Miracoli, Field of Miracles. Across the street from the Tower, a fast food joint with this name...

Our city bus ticket was only good for one hour so we pretty much just took our pictures (carrying all our luggage) and vamoosed from Pisa. We caught a train to La Spezia where we connected to a local train to the Cinque Terre, our home for the next three days. The town we stayed in is called Vernazza.

Taken from the jetty. Our room is in the orange building in the middle. Top floor, fourth window from the left. The charm of Vernazza hits you pretty instantly. View from the top of the castle. Vernazza from the opposite direction on the way to Monterosso. Taken from the window of our room at twilight.

Our first full day in the Cinque Terre. We hiked South visiting the towns of Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. This was taken just outside of Vernazza with Corniglia in the distance. The train station below Corniglia. Most of the time the train burrows along through the cliffs, but at moments it bursts out into the sunshine giving you sudden and beautiful views of the sea. You can also see a well-maintained portion of the walking path. Most of the path is a trail and not as flat and wide as this. However it is not terribly strenuous and all five towns can easily be visited in one day. I don't recommend it though as you would be rushed and consequently fail to enjoy their charms. The main walk through Manarola. The path between Manarola and Riomaggiore is a short 15 minute walk on this path carved into the cliffside. We made it a point to get up early and get there before it became too overcrowded. Then we had lunch in Riomaggiore. I had a local dish, pesto, from basil grown right there on the cliffside terraces.

One of the terraced farms. Dad before Monterossa. When in Italy it is mandatory to stop in cafes for espresso. It's much better than that which we have in the states. It's under one Euro and you just stand and drink it in one gulp at the bar. A little pastry doesn't hurt either :) Witness Dad assimilating into the local culture by hoisting a demitasse.

We had to work off some of those pastries with a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Dad in water at the beach in Monterosso Me on the beach Dad took a picture of me on a farming funicular. I look determined to get the job done. It's a good thing the funicular didn't suddenly start rolling. Look at that path!

Read on for more of Italy in the TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE

If you just can't take it anymore, you can end the holiday and go HOME

There are people lined up along the sidewalks doing this. When in Pisa...	A little mischief	A view of a slice of the Campo dei Miracoli, Field of Miracles.	Across the street from the Tower, a fast food joint with this name...

Taken from the jetty. Our room is in the orange building in the middle. Top floor, fourth window from the left.	The charm of Vernazza hits you pretty instantly. View from the top of the castle.	Vernazza from the opposite direction on the way to Monterosso.	Taken from the window of our room at twilight.

Our first full day in the Cinque Terre. We hiked South visiting the towns of Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. This was taken just outside of Vernazza with Corniglia in the distance.	The train station below Corniglia. Most of the time the train burrows along through the cliffs, but at moments it bursts out into the sunshine giving you sudden and beautiful views of the sea. You can also see a well-maintained portion of the walking path. Most of the path is a trail and not as flat and wide as this. However it is not terribly strenuous and all five towns can easily be visited in one day. I don't recommend it though as you would be rushed and consequently fail to enjoy their charms.	The main walk through Manarola.	The path between Manarola and Riomaggiore is a short 15 minute walk on this path carved into the cliffside. We made it a point to get up early and get there before it became too overcrowded. Then we had lunch in Riomaggiore. I had a local dish, pesto, from basil grown right there on the cliffside terraces.

One of the terraced farms.	Dad before Monterossa.	When in Italy it is mandatory to stop in cafes for espresso. It's much better than that which we have in the states. It's under one Euro and you just stand and drink it in one gulp at the bar. A little pastry doesn't hurt either :)	Witness Dad assimilating into the local culture by hoisting a demitasse.

We had to work off some of those pastries with a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Dad in water at the beach in Monterosso	Me on the beach	Dad took a picture of me on a farming funicular. I look determined to get the job done.	It's a good thing the funicular didn't suddenly start rolling. Look at that path!