Our Cinque Terre Highlights “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ― Ernest Hemingway
Monterosso al Mare
Arriving in Monterosso by train added to the adventure.
Exiting the train station, we were greeted by sunshne, the Mediterranean Sea and 80 degrees.
The Beach - People watching here allows for watching more of a person than is legal back home. Regardless of where the eyes fixate, there is always plenty to see on Monterosso's sandy beaches.
Restaurants - Many good ones to choose from including Ristorante Belvedere where they splatter your platter with an urn of seafood stew.
German Pillboxes remained from World War II.
Hotel Ponte Merco had beautiful blue tiles emphasizing a sea theme.
Other Monterosso adventures such as a pesto dinner and fantastic seaside views are highlighted below.
Vernazza
Vernazza is the prettiest harbor of the Cinque Terre.
We actually saw a fisherman bring in his catch of shrimp & prawns and peel them in his boat.
Santa Margherita di Antiochia Church lies on the harbor front - built to last in ca 1318.
The village walkway features the usual - tourist stores, gelaterias, restaurants, bars - and the unusual - a chapel in the street
Posters show the devastation of the 2011 mudslide.
Il Casello - Monterosso Seaside Bar
Here is the late afternoon view from Il Casello, an outdoor bar overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Monterosso - a great way to share thoughts after touring the Cinque Terre.
Oh No! Hitoshi Forgot His Euro-Speedo
Every group has an over-achiever. Ours was Hitoshi (left). He climbed the Tower of Pisa, St. Peter's Dome, the Florence Duomo, and anything else that was vertical. In Monterosso, he wanted to experience the sea. Lacking a proper Euro-bathing suit (Hitoshi left his Speedo at home), he donned his wife's pants and headed for the shore. Misako just closes her eyes at the thought of her husband swimming in her pants.
Sailing the Cinque Terre
So many picturesque moments exist sailing south from Monterosso past Vernazza, Corniglia and Manarola to Riomaggiore. With the inter-village walkways closed, due to the threat of landslides, sailing or trains were our only options. While staying in Monterosso, we visited Riomaggiore and Vernazza.
Riomaggiore
Rock layers push up from the sea providing a geological treat.
Walking up the hilly street on the north side of town presents great views over the train station and the sea.
A colorful, tiled tunnel adds to the village charm.
Hanging with our Group Pesto Dinner - Monterosso
Eleven of us signed up for a pesto making demonstration and dinner at the Hotel Pasquale's family-run restaurant. Our hosts were most gracious and the main entrees (lasagna al forno & fish with pesto) were wonderful. Of course, they were complemented by delicious wine. We were given the recipes which allowed us to take home a bit of Italy. The limoncello capped a great evening.
Monterosso Hilltop Views
Atop the hill, we saw:
Statue of St. Francis Assisi overlooking the harbor
Pirate lookout
Great views looking down on Monterosso (pictures below)
Church of the Capuchin Friars
Cemetery - Holy ground with mausoleum resting places hundreds of years old
Ideas for Our Next Visit
A Cinque Terre highlight, the walkways between towns, were closed due to mudslides. As disappointing as this was, we still had plenty to do. We look forward to returning to take these seaside walks. Pictured left is the Via dell' Amore between Riomaggiore & Manarola.
Wine tasting at Buranco Agriturismo
Surprises/Helpful Hints
Surprise - Mudslides wrecked havoc on these villages in October 2011. Mudslides shut down the walkways between Cinque Terre towns for our tour in October 2012.
Surprise - While we're 'tweeners on the wine novice to connoisseur spectrum, we never had an Italian house wine we didn't like.
Hint - Part of the charm of these villages is their antiquity. Antiquity sometimes carries over into restrooms. Most restaurants and hotels have modern facilities; use them. The world may be unfair to women when it comes to childbirth & ancient restrooms, but the rewards of travel far outweigh the inconvenience.
For What It's Worth
"Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party." - Jimmy Buffett