The first of the five villages we ever saw was Vernazza in 2007. We had brought the boys for a whirlwind driving tour of Yorkshire (to meet the relatives) and Europe from Bacharach (near Frankfurt), straight down through Germany, and France to the Cinque Terre in Italy and back up to Munich.
I will never forget that first peak of the coloured buildings and narrow roadway leading down to the sea.
There was a weekly market there when we went this time, and incrementally more tourists, but is just as charming now as it was then.
The walk from the train station at the top of the village only takes a few minutes and then you are rewarded with this view.
Lots of activity down at the harbour, with private boat tours, the hourly ferry to the other villages, and guys just out to catch a fish. Or at least talk about catching one.
Our real goal was to get a seat at the restaurant on the promenade and order our favourite lasagne in the world. I can’t put my finger on what exactly makes it the best, but it is very light – despite having at least 6 layers of pasta and both bechamel and meat layers.
Then it was a few last shots before heading back to Riomaggiore by train.
The waterfront area there is also very picturesque.
But this is the money shot.
We kept going around on that path to the right until we reached a little swimming beach. Now is when you would appreciate lugging your water shoes for three weeks – the rocks are very slippery and the waves are crashing. But – undeterred – we both got in the ocean and enjoyed a nice swim. The water is quite warm, warmer than any pool we have been in over here, so go figure. No picture of that, sorry.
Then I woke up with a horrendous head cold. I did bring some appropriate cold medications, but not the one I really need – Nyquil Complete. our landlady offered me some Vicks vaporub, but I politely declined. That stuff is gross.
Seemed like a good day to stay in bed – we had a hellofa thunderstorm last night, with crazy lightning and torrents of rain. Around noon it seemed to be brightening up and
Don decided that what I really needed was more red wine and a pizza!
Anyway – the wine didn’t hurt and when it stopped raining we went back to our place for a long nap.
Tomorrow we need to get back to Florence for our last couple of days before flying home on Sunday.
Pisa train station is still all screwed up until the 11th apparently, turning getting anywhere by train into total chaos.
So we are booked tomorrow with 3 train changes, one of which has a whopping 5 minute connection time. We have made a 12 minute connection before, by the skin of our teeth, but 5 seems like it might be pushing it unless it’s on the next track over (which it never is). ChatGPT said that because of the Pisa kerfuffle, they were laying on extra trains at this particular spot, Viareggio, so we’re not going to panic just yet. We will be at our last change so hopefully can just hop on the next one.
Fingers crossed!!
