Jo-Lynne Sutherland

Rested from yesterday, we headed off on another hiking adventure today. As the main E route from here to Corniglia is closed - and we weren’t up for that ridiculous EE trail again - we decided to take the train to Corniglia, hike to Vernazza, and take the train back.

The train ticket machine was the next challenge. I watched several people do it - then “mastered it.” 5 euro each and we were good to go. The train was jam packed - we elbowed our way in, then were sandwiched in the entrance unable to move. Fortunately it was only 2 stops.

Corniglia is high on the hill, so needless to say there were millions of steps leading from the train station to the city. From there, after asking directions, we found the trail and headed off. This route was much more reasonable than our first hike. There were lots of steep steps, and narrow paths with rails, but in between there were some flat sections- enough to get your breathe back. What a relief. It was also overcast with a breeze, which helped. There were lots more hikers - mainly French, but also German.

Midway there was even a shop selling fresh oranges and lemons - but it was so packed with people the only pic I could get was the discarded peels.

1.5 hours later, not sweating or puffing too much, Vernazza came into view. It really is picturesque with its harbour, and multicolour tall buildings. The streets are even narrower than in Rio, and packed with tourists. Finding a table without a table cloth was the next challenge - but a little further from the harbour we found one.

Curious thing - to me anyway - is that the utensils & bread come in brown paper bags.
A light lunch of mixed salad & Moretti beer, with aesthetically packaged olive oil from the region & balsamic vinegar . . . . and life is good. Vernazza is known for its olive trees and high quality olive oil. Loved that they brought bottles of each to our table.

We watched teams of Italian fisherman pulling up their dinghies, one by one onto the shore, wandered through the narrow streets, and paused a moment a Margherita di Antiochus Church, built in the 1500s - I behaved myself this time. The pic shows the real scene - lovely church, beside rickety building with laundry hanging out.

The train trip back was amazingly calm. Perhaps it was the hour - about 4pm - or the station, but we actually got a seat. As always, no one checked our tickets. Guess it’s the honour system, but when it’s packed there’s no way anyone could walk up and down the aisles.

We’re sitting on our tiny balcony now, enjoying our drinks, walnuts & olives and watching the street scene below.

Once again they forecasted rain & thunder storms, and we got overcast skies for awhile then periods of sunshine. Hope they’re wrong again tomorrow.Meer informatie