Cinque Terre

La Spezia and the Cinque Terre

Arrived in Italy for the first time at about 3.00 in the afternoon and even though we had only travelled one railway station, the differences in France and Italy were noticeable. The architecture was different for a start, and although there were many fine Italianate mansions, many places were the concrete boxes and shutters a la Safety Beach 10 years ago!
And as opposed to the clean and tidy French streets, graffiti decorated every wall and spot and the place had that anarchic sense that most Italians have. But the coffee was immediately better and the language more familiar. ( I do live in Dromana). La Spezia was a pleasant place, but the Cinque Terre towns were amazing.
Despite the rain in the morning we travelled to the first village and went for an amazing walk on a track chiselled into the hillside overlooking the famous Mediterranean Sea. The track was an incredible work of engineering in the first place, and luckily the rain again kept the usually teeming crowds down. From here to Monterosso the largest of the cinque villages where we explored the windy streets and had a lovely Italian lunch overlooking the water. The food too is more familiar than France and the Ministrone soup with crusty bread and the Pizza slices were delicious. We then spent the afternoon exploring the other villages of this famous region. The sun had appeared again by this time and we enjoyed a warm afternoon. Steph frolicked in the warm sea. Jumping out of the small waves. It was really warm actually. Returned to our hotel, the fifth floor of the Mary Hotel opposite La Spezia station and packed the bags for the trip to Venice, the Jewel of the Sea.
Missing everyone, home in a week.