The track from Monterosso to Vernazza is not a long distance but it is up and over a couple of mountains . So it is not for the unfit as it is arduous - but the coastal scenery is magnificent. Originally the track was for villagers harvesting their mountain crops. Grapes, lemons, tomatoes, olives and capsicum (bell peppers) are grown on terraces on the steep mountain sides. This picture is of Vernazza.
Cinque Terre
September 18, 2008
Cinque Terre - Tuesday
Being mid September and mid week we thought that there would be no problem finding accommodation in Cinque Terre as the tourist season is over and the Europeans have gone back to work. Wrong. Cinque Terre was busy. So glad it is not tourist season, it would be wall to wall people in season I reckon.
Cinque Terre is five villages perched on mountainside along the west coast of Italy all within walking distance – that was the attraction – an easy walk.
It is breathtaking scenery, as you can see from the picture, but it is busy. We could not get accommodation at Riomaggiore, the start of the five villages, and we could not get parking. In fact, every place we rang along the coast was fully booked. A young chap overheard us discussing that we should try the far village next, Monterosso. At that he piped up and said that his mother had a room in Monterosso. We were dubious, but desperate, so we took it.
The drive to Monterosso is a zig zagging cliff perching rally lovers dream and the room is brilliant, one of the best I have stayed at in Italy this trip, large, comfortable and well equipped. We were very grateful to the young chap for putting us on to it.
Today was an explore Monterosso day, tomorrow will be explore the coast.
La Spezia - Tuesday
Had heard that La Spezia was a major tourist and holiday attraction in Italy. People commute to work in Milan on the high speed express train to be able to live here, so was expecting something very special. It is situated in a gulf so I guess it must be pretty well protected from weather extremes. However, we didn’t bother stopping when we reached La Spezia as it looked more like a Navy and general dock yard than a tourist attraction. In short we were disappointed. It may have been a dreamy place once, but all of the dock and industrial installations in the area, we felt, spoilt it. We kept on going. This photo is taken from the top of the mountain leaving La Spezia.
Recent Comments