Last full day in Cinque Terre!

After my post last night we decided to enjoy our big meal then instead of tonight. We hadn't eaten much and the restaurants smelled too good!! We first made a stop at a restaurant by the water to get a glass of wine and tomato/caper bruschettas. Next to us... An American couple... We couldn't figure out if they had just gotten married in June or if they have been married... They were awkward but funny to listen to. After that, we switched over to a famous restaurant called the Gambero Rosso (also on the beach). There the goal was to get some seafood. (Me clearly since Maia wouldn't dream of it). 

I ordered a plate of mixed fish and Maia got spaghetti with ragu. We worked on our bread basket and "gift appetizers" (fried zucchini and cod) until our food came. Oh man.... There were soooo many faces on my plate. Big fish, little fish, medium fish, and more all whole and with eyes includes. Lobster, calamari, and mini octopus ... I didn't even know how to eat it. I'm certain I ate more that one bone piece... But I did my best!! Hahah.  Our dessert (which of course I ate by myself) was delicious and had strawberries over it.  Aside from that... Not sure how to describe it... It wasn't flan or pudding but something white and in between. I asked what the best thing was and I was told that .... So I agreed! Then... Stuffed.... We walked to a rock by the water and waited until it was dark. There were 3 little French kids who had discovered something under a rock and called over their parents to look. At some point a precious little blonde boy approached them and sat down without saying anything and sat on the rock next to them... Soooo precious. He didn't say anything... He clearly didn't speak French, but he watched them.  When they left he got up to find out what they had been looking at. Maia was at awe that his parents weren't around, and at that point I came to the conclusion that he had to be German. German parents ( at least those I have observed) let their kids run wild. Indeed a few minutes later his dad came and yelled "Sebastian, Komm!"yup German indeed. After he left... I quickly jumped from my rock and headed to see what the kids were looking at!! And it was an octopus!! It was huge! Well... Not really but bigger than my hand. Super cool!!! After that... We called it a night and headed home walking by a lady playing the guitar while some kids played. 

This morning started at 10:30.... And we haven't "done" much since. We walked Vernazza and found that Rick failed to mention a hidden beach and some great streets. We stopped at the church, which doesnt need fancy glasswork because it faces the sea an the most picturesque view. Rick failed us on this town... but his book is everywhere!!!!!

 We then continued  by getting some croissants, sitting on some steps, and checking some Facebook. Then... We headed to the harbor and sat. Ugh then... A group of Asia tourist found our octopus and pulled it out!!! And laid it on the hot concrete to take picture of the poor dying octopus!!! Soooo rude! It made me so mad I could have pushed all ten of them in the water. How dare you disturb the poor octopus. What did it do to you!!?!? Even the 5 and 6 year olds last night knew not to disturb it!! 

After an hour I headed to the train station to buy our train ticket for tomorrow. My American card failed on the machine... So I headed inside to ask and the guy said "you buy tomorrow with cash." I walked away thinking you don't open till 8 and we need to leave at 616... You do the math sir!!! I went back and got my German card and went back to the machine. Gladly that one worked in the machine and I got our ticket. After dropping that off, I headed to a precious little store that was closing for the day (1am). I bought some grapes and headed to a bakery to get a mini focaccia pizza. With food in hand I headed back to find Maia on the rocks.  Along the street the old Italian men are still sitting watching people going by and the women gossiping from their chairs. 

The we sat, ate, Maia read, Maia dropped her book in the water... Then we headed back, refilled our water bottles, bought some cookies and went I hide from the bright noon sun in our room. Here I wrote, Maia slept, and now we are listening to people walk the streets.  It has started to rain so the crowd are moving to the train station.  Amongst them a huge group of Italian school kids singing and along the streets tourists taking pictures of them ... Priceless.  Then... Someone started playing the pan flute. Like why?????

On another note... I took out Rick's Ireland book and have been soooo disappointed. It is not helpful at all. We will have to get online today to look up Cork because it is by mentioned. He just mentions outlet malls in Killarney, ugh seriously!? Rick, get it together!!