No Sign of Tracks Doesn't Mean There's No Station!

Tuscany is behind us and we've dropped the rental car in La Spezia.  Whew! That all went pretty smoothly but a word to the wise, dropping a rental car from Europcar in that town isn't easy.  We managed to find the office without too much of a problem but the issue was it is located on a main street with no signage about where to leave the car.  So, I just did the Italian thing - I double-parked and put on the 4-way flashers while Delcie went into find out what to do.  Next, there was an Italian guy in the car with us directing us down a driveway onto another street where there were rows of cars he said were Europcars.  Was there a sign anywhere, no!  Anyway, in a split second, we were out of the car with our stuff and he took off while we dragged our bags back to the office to sort the paperwork out.  When I booked the rental, I thought the drop-off point was at the train station - NOT!  According to Google maps, it was a one hour walk to the "stazione" from the car rental office and that was sure not going to happen.  So, they called a taxi for us and 20 euros and 10 minutes later, we were there.  Step one, accomplished.  

Getting the train to Monterosso al Mare was pretty straightforward - and only 5 Euros.  So, in about 25 minutes we were there and, thankfully, the elevator at the station was working so that was helpful.  My luggage is really heavy, maybe something to do with 3 leather handbags from San Gimignano!  It was an easy and level walk to our hotel - the Hotel 5 Terre where I have stayed at least 2 times previously.  Check-in went smoothly but I was not happy with my room.  We are here for 3 nights and I booked it back in June or July so having a room with a view of all the hanging hotel laundry just didn't work for me.  They said they'd try to move me in the morning. 

Nice to see a Canadian Flag

The views from my rooms

 

As it was Delcie's birthday, once we settled in, we headed down to the beach front for a late lunch and a glass of Prosecco.  It was all quite lovely except for the flies which are everywhere.  Sometimes we had at least 4 on each of us plus the ones on the table and food.  One even went into my glass!  Not sure why they are so prevalent but they are really annoying!  Anyway, after our drinks there, we took a break before heading out for dinner.  

We ate at a nearby restaurant called Barabba and the food and wine were really good.  It was a fun way to celebrate a birthday.  We had a good time chatting and then ended up talking to a brother and sister sitting beside us - middle-aged and American.  It was all going quite well until the subject of guns and Trump came up.  One of them lived in Vegas and the other split her time between Wisconsin and Florida.  No need to wonder what their politics were.  What was unbelievable was some of the things the woman said.  For example, Japan didn't try to invade the US in WWII because it knew that all the civilians were armed.  She said she had no idea that Americans weren't loved all over the world until 9/11 happened.  She thinks mass shootings are caused by the media because it makes the shooters into superstars.  I could go on but I won't.  Needless to say the only source of info for her in Fox News.  I just about left until we agreed to change the subject and get back to talking about Italy and their plans while they were here.  Jeez!

The next day, we had decided to take the boat from here to the southern most village of the 5 called Riomaggiore.  Years ago, you could walk/hike between them all but the two most southern ones are closed for repairs (Riomaggiore to Manarola and from there to Corniglia).  The one way boat trip was 15 Euros.  For something like 40 Euros, you can buy a ticket that let's you get off and on at all the stops - a HO/HO boat, so to speak, rather than a bus!  I managed to get photos of the villages from the water.  The coastline along here is pretty spectacular.

Monterosso al Mare

Vernazza

Corniglia - only village not on the water

Manarola

Riomaggiore

More of Riomaggiore

When we reached Riomaggiore and took a look around there (it is very small), the plan was for me to go back to the hotel and for Delcie to hike from Corniglia back to here.  We needed to take trains to make that happen.  So, we started looking for the stazione or, at least, train tracks.  We walked up and up and up.  It was a very steep climb and saw no sign of tracks or a station anywhere.  At the top of the hill, we asked where the station was.  Well, apparently it was located at the bottom of the hill I'd just struggled to climb up.  Where on earth was it?  We never saw it or even any sign for it.  Well, it is hidden down a tunnel you walk down.  Then, voila!  You are on a train platform.  Who knew?  Apparently not us!  The tracks run under the town so no wonder we were confused.  The regional train between all the towns between La Spezia and the towns of the Cinque Terre plus others north and south of here costs only 5 Euros.  So, we both got on the next train, she got off at Corniglia to do an over 3 hour hike and I went back to Riomaggiore to my newly assigned room - now looking over the garden.  So, in spite of my sore back and hips from the climb, I am much happier!