Cinque Terre - Riomaggiore

Leaving Milan behind we took off on a semi fast train - Frecciobianco I think - and flew through to Genoa for a change of train, then on to La Spezia. We noticed the crowds growing little by little as we got closer to Cinque Terre, so when we climbed on board the final train to take us the one stop to Riomaggiore, it was crowded.

When you arrive you feel like you are in Tinytown. The village is stacked up into the side of a sheer headland and there doesnt seem to be room for, well, anything. We had basic directions and took off up the steady slope wheeling the luggage onward and upward, onward and upward, until we rounded a corner and there was a little lady (it is always a little lady here) waiting looking expectant. 

Hooray, it was our little lady!

She excitedly explained that we no havva accommodation we book but she is is so happy cause she give now room with balcony near historic centre and havva ocean view.

This was good news but it meant more climbing. We walked with Emiliana up and up and up until she stopped at a little itty bitty door that looks like a broom closet.

Then up, up the stairs that felt like they would never end.

Finally we reached our new accommodation. Out of breath and aching from head to foot we entered a brand new apartment with a loft and magnificent views. Well worth the effort, finally.

On our little lady's advice we relaxed, walked around, took in the views, had a drink by the harbour ....all twenty square metres of it and had our evening meal in the main drag.

Our second day was to be a journey around some of the Cinque Terres. We jumped on a very crowded train and got off at Vernazza to check it out. Lovely, but people absolutely everywhere.

Then we went down to the Bondi of the CinqueTerres, Monterosso. We paid the freight to get a banana chair and and an umbrella and had a relaxing couple of hours on the beach. The water was beautiful, cool, clear and aqua.

 I had an interesting conversation with the chair man who says Italy is one step away from the Spain and Greece track, with 30per cent youth unemployment. He is desperate to emigrate to the US.

The trip home on the train was horrendous. There were simply too many people for the train to hold but of course everyone just kept jamming in until you literally could not move. It was a claustrophobic nightmare. You could imagine this scene going horribly wrong with just one person freaking out. To make matters worse the train did not move and was running late so the numbers were building at all the stations down the line. It was great to finally get out. We sat down together to get ourselves together and let the crowd go.

Dinner tonight was great, but we had to wait outside to get a table because all of the restaurants were chockers. This is a beautiful place but I am afraid the cat is out of the bag...and how! Australia must be empty right now, Cinque Terre is the new Earls Court. It feels like an elephant has been squashed into a sock, the place can't hold the crowds......squeezy, lofty but lovely.

Genoa tomorrow, then bye Italy hello La France.