Once at the airport we bought our train ticket to Vernazza from Pisa Centrale. After that, we knew that we had to find a certain bus and take it to the tower of Pisa! And could then take it to the station... We went to buy our bus ticket and... Everything was in Italian... The two people in front of us at the machine were either Uruguayan or Argentinian and had no troubles. We... Left something to be desired. After that... We realized we had no map... So ticket in hand we went back in to get a map from information.
Once the bus came, we joined the locals on the bus. Halfway to the tower of Pisa (which we wouldn't have found if it wasn't for Maia noticing the sign from the bus) we see an older Italian woman hitting the glass from a seat two rows from us. She was yelling something in Italian. Which I quickly understood was a warning to a guy getting on the bus... Someone had their hands in his bag and were getting his wallet. The guy was able to stop the thief thanks to the Dona who decided to scream and hit the glass window. The driver came back and in Italian told us all to be careful.
Once Maia saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa sign, we exited the bus and walked around. As leaning as it is in the pictures!! It was hilarious!! Why??? Because everyone was posing to get a picture holding it up. So... As every good tourist... So did we.
Our plan had been to walk to the station, but thanks to the pocket thief scare... We agreed to find a bus. On our way to the bus station, we found a tourist hop on hop off bus... And when we saw the affordable price, we decided to go for it.
It was AWESOME!!! We got to see all of Pisa and the country side too!! Our favorite part was the drive out to the national park there. We saw a log of Jockeys on their horses taking them to the tracks and fields of sunflowers lining the unbelievable mountain views. After riding 1.5 times through the route, we got off a the central station and tried to figure out if we could use out ticket two hours early. We didn't.... But we got a slice of pizza validated the ticket and took the risk. After 45 minutes we reached Saraza (i think) and made a switch to the train to Vernazza... our little town in the amazing Cinque Terre. Side note: we were melting!!! Had jeans on because they wouldn't fit in our backpacks.. And unlike Potsdam... Italy is hot.
Upon exiting a tunnel... We finally got our first view of the sea. WOW. We were speechless. Cinque Terre is made up of 5 tiny towns on the coast. They are connected by hiking paths (all are closed but one due to landslides and constructions) and train. Vernazza is the fourth and has a population of 500. Others have a population of 200!! Crazy.
Our goal for our 5 days here is to hike, visit and get to know all five towns, eat delicious food, lay at the breach, an most importantly relax. Maia and I aren't very good at the latter ... So we are working on it.
Upon arriving in Vernazza we had to find a pay phone to call Maurizia, the lady from whom we rented our room in the main and only road Vernazza has. We were two hours early and didn't want to walk around in jeans until the time we had set to meet her at the station. The pay phone took about 10 tries. Man... We have definitely forgotten how to use these things... Haha... The American couple in front of us struggled and gave up. After making it work... It hung up halfway through my conversation with her (which was rough because she doesn't speak English and I don't speak Italian. I kept saying I'm Martina and she said no... I'm Maurizia. Hahhaha. ) While waiting to get another turn at the phone, a woman came up to us and said "Irene?" (The room is under my moms name). Yes!!! She found us. That's how tiny this one street is. Hahhaha after leading us up 3 flights of stairs, we arrived at our perfect room WITH air!!!!! And a window facing the main and only street. It's perfect and after changing we headed out to explore the town. The views are incredible. Colored houses, the sea, boats, vineyards, and mountains. What else does one need. We lasted about an hour and then went in for a nap. Two hours later we were at it again.
First thing first: dinner! Maia had some gnocchi and I had some delicious basil lasagna. After that... We just sat on the rocks and enjoyed the locals. There was a group of fifty or sixty year old men jumping from very high cliffs into the water. They were like little kids. Priceless. One man was fishing without a fishing pole. Another dad threw his kid in!!! It was fun and we stayed there until the sun set. Our only break was to visit a little store to get cookies and coca light. Yes. I'm drinking them again... Only on this trip though. Our other stop earlier was at a pharmacy for sun screen (50--- no we won't tan, burn, or anything), shampoo, and toothpaste. Most expensive purchase but necessary.
Once back at the apartment we fell asleep instantly.
Today started early. Our plan was to wake up and go to the market (8-1pm) and hurry to buy the pass that would allow us to hike. At this point we thought two paths were open. One (the hardest) leading to the beach town... Where we planned on Renting two chairs and an umbrella for the day. Unfortunately that one was closed. The other from our town (2nd hardest) was not. Sooo we bought the pass and headed out to Corniglia early, since the market wasn't hopping yet and we couldn't wait or the sun would melt us on the hike.
To say the view was breathtaking wouldn't be enough... I will have to load pictures later. Leaving Vernazza the view of the town was unreal. To say the hike was hard, would also be an understatement. We climbed and climbed and climbed. Ugh. The vineyards, the water, and the view made it worth it. But we will definitely be in pain tomorrow.
Once in Corbiglia we followed Rick Steve's walking tour through the tiny town. Population 257 I believe. Outside each house was a pot with basil (again pesto is huge here). We walked to the view point and admired the vineyards! Sooo pretty! After walking by a store that said "my wife is expensive, but my wi-fi is free," I knew we had to go in. After a delicious breakfast and updating our pictures, we headed out to the train station. Next stop Motesorro al Mare for a day at the beach. We arrived at 11:30 and hid from the sun until 3:00 under our umbrella! We had a pesto focaccia and enjoyed the view. The water is freezing but feels great and is sooo clean and salty. It is unreal that we are sitting on the beach between mountains full of tiny towns and vineyards. Like who are we??? A relaxed pair! Hahha I'm typing this on my phone now looking at the waves come in!! I will hopefully find wifi and post it soon!
It is now 7:48 and I'm laying in bed waiting on Maia to finish showering so we can head out to enjoy Vernazza by night! After leavi the beach at 6:20 we walked Montessoro and its older parts. It is sooo cute. It is clearly the largest and most resorty of the five, but has lots of charm. Still full of locals sitting on the street people watching and more Americans than the rest. After our walk and some gelato we headed back to Vernazza on the train.
For those of you concerned about my skin after almost 7 hours at the beach, I am happy to report I am as pale as ever with the exception of some small red patches that clearly didn't get as much sunscreen as the rest. For all those that say that sunscreen doesn't help.... This SPF 50 sure did help me!!! Even my spots that hadn't seen sun in years didn't burn! The tiny burnt spot on one of my arms and my leg make me appreciate the sunscreen a LOT! Yay for sun screen. No skin cancer for me!
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