Florence

I am going to sleep well tonight. To hell with the million bugs that made dinner of me last night. It's now midnight and I just back back from a LONG day trip to Cinque Terre. I got up at 6 30 AM to catch a bus to make a train leaving Firenze Santa Maria Novella just before 8AM. I met some folks on teh trains. First, a pair of Italian brothers who were going to Genoa because one of them wants to visit a uni there. Their family owns a hotel near the Florence train station, and I think I'm supposed to go visit tomorrow before my night train to Paris. On the second ride, a very short one, I met an older English couple who vacations in Italy all the time.

From Rio Maggiore (after a good long stop for pictures), I headed off to Manarola along the Via del Amore, a really easy walk with nice photo ops. After a brief stop, I went onto the slightly harder walk to Corniglia which is capped by a huge (350) set of steps that take you into town. Moving on again, the next path was pretty tough. Along the way I met a mom of 2 traveling solo. She went to UCSC and is now at MS in Redmond. We had some talks while walking. I was aiming to eat a late lunch there in Vernazza (town #3), but it was after 3pm and nothing was open. So, I had to move on to Monterosa.

Now, that was a hard hike. The first series is just a painful set of steps that seem to go on forever. But I'm pretty sure it's worse the other way, as I had a hugeR set of steps to descend into Monterosa al Mare. Along the way, I spoke with a RSA/London couple and a Canadian girl. Again, I intended to eat upon arriving in Monterosa, but no place was open for dinner at 5-530PM. So I decided to catch the train back to Rio Maggiore. Unfortunately, between cancelled trains and late trains, I had only 30 minutes to buy food-related souvenirs and food. I god some food and convinced them to let me have it to go. Pesta pasta, and fried calamari for 19E. Sadly I don't know how to eat fried whole shrimp and crawdads, so these will have to go to waste.

So this is night 2 in the hostel. So far, it's ok. I've been talking with my roommates but otherwise, I'm not really here. On the bus ride from SMN (train station) tonight, I met this SPanish guy and French guy coming to the same hostel. Along the way, a fRench couple next to me decided to talk about me in French. They were wondering if I was American and thought it was lamentable that Americans can only speak one language. I wanted to tell them "Oui, je suis Americain"when I got off the bus, but they moved down the bus before I could say anything.

Alright, time to wash up and finally call it a night. Long day again tomorrow.

Pictures: (a few from a selection of MANY)



Rio Maggiore



















Between Rio Maggiore and Manarola

















Manarola








Between Manarola and Corniglia, Looking back at Manarola














Between Manarola and Corniglia, looking forward to where I have to go
















The steps of Corniglia



















Corniglia










Corniglia, looking back at Manarola
















Vineyards Between Corniglia and Vernazza













Between Corniglia and Vernazza, looking back at Corniglia with Manarola in the background













Vernazza














Vernazza














Between Vernazza and Monterosa Al Mare (Looking back at Vernazza - look how much uphill walking it took to get there!)










And how much further to go...














(Part of) The descent into Monterosa














Monterosa al Mare














Oh look. I think there's some sort of Tower in this town. But I heard it's pretty whatever, so I skipped it, as you can see by the blurriness of this lovely picture.