My Easter holiday began with drinks and dinner after work (on Thursday 1 April) before heading to the airport to catch my flight at 12.45am direct to Milano, Italia. After a very bumpy flight, with the seat belt sign on most the journey we landed in Milano just before 9am on Friday 2 April (Good Friday). Ye ha I’m back in Italia! I had just under 2 hours before Ange arrived from London so first stop after passport control was coffee, real Italian coffee. Managed to order in Italian, which I was very impressed with, then the lady knocked me down by asking for my receipt – I’d forgotten you had to pay for the drink before you ordered it. Anyway within a couple of minutes I was all set and drinking my wonderful coffee. Loved standing at the counter and taking in the Italian language all around me! Ah I’m in love!
Managed to kill half an hour so with one and a half hours still to go before Ange arrived I started the walk up and down the arrivals terminal – let me tell you its far from exciting and within 2 minutes I’d done the whole floor!!! With time still to kill I had a sandwich, this time paying before ordering, I had the system down pack now.
Ange arrived and within a couple of minutes we were out in the cold buying tickets for the next bus to Milano Centrale Station. I’d done the research while waiting so we were all set. The bus trip, which took 1 hour, was pleasant enough. Ange and I were both amazed at the amount of snow of the mountains – I thought it was suppose to be summer! Clearly not. Was very pretty though.
On arrival at Milano Central we joined the very long line to buy tickets to Cinque Terre, we were slowly getting there! In the end we spilt up, and I purchased the tickets through the machine. Straight up to the platform where we purchased some sandwiches, in the only shop open due to Good Friday, then boarded the train. Before departure we were told we may have to move if someone had reserved the seats, I was praying this didn’t happen as the train was rather full. The train was 3 hours, to La Spezia, and actually went by quick quickly. After passing through Genoa the view got increasing better as we were on the coast. On arrival into La Spezia we had to purchase tickets for our next train – the attendant told us there was a train literally about to depart so we hot footed it to the platform to find it had gone….a real pain but thankfully there was a train going shortly so we were set. That’s into the conductor came by to check the tickets and informed us we were on the wrong train (for our ticket) and had to pay more.
Finally got to Monterosso al Mare around 5pm, in the wonderful sunshine, a taxi pulled up as we were exiting the station which was perfect timing and before we knew it we were at our B&B. After checking in we dropped off our bags and headed back down the hill to the “township”. First stop was a bread / come wine bar shop for fresh focaccia – the choice was huge and after staring for awhile the decision was made and we were off. Walking and enjoying the delicious bread. Headed towards the old town, the first thing I noticed was a group of old men (grand parents age) sitting around chatting – bliss! Didn’t walk too far as we came across a wine bar in a small piazza so made ourselves at home and watched the world go by. A great way to end an extremely long day for both of us!!! I gave my new camera a great run sitting there, then walking around. Found a lovely restaurant down a small alleyway, more wine and good food then I hit the wall (not literally) so we started the journey home. Got basically home then the heavens opened.
Aaron arrived around 1am, before he arrived I’d been sleeping on and off and was praying Ange and I wouldn’t have to go out looking for him. A couple of phone calls later he turned up without us having to venture out.
Saturday we woke early, had breakfast in the B&B then headed down the hill. It was rather chilly and I was wondering if I should be heading back to get the fleece Ange had brought for me, but within 5 minutes of starting on the Cinque Terre walk I was pleased I didn’t have it! The first stage was basically all stairs, so definitely no need for the fleece. Our first stop was in Vernazza, where we found a cute little coffee/wine bar and had our first coffee in the Cinque Terre. Ooh I was in heaven! The man making our coffees showed us his All Blacks top, which he was wearing, they are certainly all around the world :) Had a look around the village, including going into the Cathedral and having a piece of focaccia bread. You definitely wouldn't come to Cinque Terre if you were on no carbs - there would be no point!
After refueling we were off to Corniglia, the middle town. The walk was still very scenic, but thankfully there wasn't as many stairs going up! On arriving in Corniglia I was surprised by how many people were around, and how many people were at the bus stop. I believe it was a mixture of locals and tourist, either not keen to walk or in too much of a rush to walk. we wondering into the town and found a place for lunch. Yummy pasta and wine - ooh its a hard life, HK and work seem so far away right now.
Next stage of the walk had as walking down a large number of stairs (thankfully we weren't walking up!) then onto concrete, a big change from the dirt we had been walking on. We were now walking on the cliff face where the views were very different - of the sea. In Manarola we stopped for a glass of wine, well deserved I have to tell you, before heading off to the last of the cinque terre -- Riomaggiore. This is where Mum, Dad and I had stayed when we came here nearly 7 years ago. The last part of the walk was by far the easiest and shortest - again walking on concrete and only 20 minutes. We had a look around then found somewhere for dinner.
As it was dark we decided to take the train back to Monterosso al Mare...well that and the fact we weren't that keen to walk back. Had a small problem buying the train tickets, however second time lucky we were good to go. Ange had a pass for 7 days, which was so not helpful! Had around a 30 minute wait to the next train.
Sunday we all woke in a tiny amount of pain (nothing too bad, but we definitely could feel we had done some exercise yesterday). After breakfast in the B&B we drove to Portofino. Getting to the main road was very much zig zagging….to the point I felt car sick! Even the great views didn't help. There were so many small villages, each seemed to have their own big Church. Towards the top of the hill we noticed small amounts of snow, I would hate to be there in the deep of winter. Finally we were on the motorway and whizzing towards to Portofino and Santa Margherita. Not only was it Easter but there was a boat show on so there was lots of people around. We had to quee to get into Portofino, it seemed like a one car out one car in policy and given we weren't residents of Portofino we had to wait. Finally we were permitted to enter, parked the car and were off to explore. Memories from 7 years ago came back instantly. We enjoyed a coffee sitting outside watching the world go by - was all good until the bill came. Not quite mortgage your house material but it certainly wasn't cheap. Wondered into a few shops before walking up to the Cathedral where we had great views looking down onto Portofino. Time to move on though, we headed to Santa Margherita for lunch. Lots of places were closed for Easter Sunday, however we were fortunate enough to locate a couple of bakeries who were doing a roaring trade. Ah the bread - so fresh, so tasty, so good! We enjoyed this sitting outside the Duomo. After having a look around we headed back to Monterosso, had a quick bathroom stop at a petrol station/convenience store on the motorway. Now before anyone makes a comment if you haven't stopped at a petrol station/convenience store you are missing out - its like going to a Wal-Mart with food, just a lot smaller!!
Dropped off the car at the B&B then headed down the hill to the old town. Had a really good look around, including going into the two stripped churches we came across, then made a bee line to our wine bar from Friday night. Enjoyed a couple of hours there before going to dinner at a restaurant that was recommended to us by the waiter. It was definitely worth the wait we had to go through.
Monday we woke to clear blue sunny skies, always the way on the last day! Had breakfast then packed up. Decided to drive to Vernazza to look at a particular shop Ange and I had been in on Saturday. The views down to the sea and all the towns/villages was just amazing - we had many a stops for photos! First stop in Vernazza was at our coffee shop, where Ange ended up being 3 boyfriends (photos online). Enjoyed just wondering around Vernazza again, going in and out of the shops and watching the waves crash against the rocks. Both mine and Ange's camera had another good work out!
Drove up to join the main road and headed to Lucca. Had a couple of stops along the way, one to take photos of the huge amount of snow on the mountains and another at a road side petrol station/convenience store. On arrival into the outskirts the heavens opened, fingers crossed it will stop by the time we get out of the car. We had a couple of hours wondering around the walled city - a huge amount of history, before driving onto Pisa. Did the compulsory stop at the Learning Tower of Pisa Piazza, including going into the Cathedral which none of us had done before. It was just beautiful! I enjoyed watching a couple of "dodgy brothers are us" try and make some money while watching out for the police. One minute there was two of them, then next just one. He was a lot braver, for another minute or so, before he was packing up his stuff as quick as lightening!! Rather amusing.
We ended our wonderful Italian trip at a restaurant that Ange and Aaron had been to 3-5 years earlier, after walking the streets in search of it and me hearing all about it we finally found it and it was everything Ange had description - I will definitely be returning there, as well as recommending it to people, should I ever return to Italy.
Arrive Derci Italia - I will be back!
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