Ciao Travellers,
Our last day on Elba saw us up early and driving our toy car one hour to the ferry. In the dark and dawning light we motored around cliff tops heading to Porto Ferrairo. Catching the hour long ferry we made it to the train station of Piombino Marittima with no seconds to spare. With only €25 on us and cash only ticket sales, meant we were left with only €1.30 change- thank God we had not brought a coffee on the ferry as the was no ATM at either Port or station!!!!!!
The train to Le Spezia with a change at Pisa Central, took a total of 3 hours and then another 30 minutes and we arrived at Venazza. A long morning of travel but a sensational end destination. We arrived in the village of Venazza, one of the five mountain etched villages that make up Cinque (5) Terre.
We could not believe the swarm of tourists milling around as we walked our suitcases to our hotel - fortunately a short distance from the train station and right on the charming little harbor - or so we thought.
Turns out that although you check into Gianni Franzi's cool little bar and ristorante, your actual room is located in one of the many vertical buidlings that have been built into the steep cliff face of the mountain and the only way to get is via stairs - lots and lots of stairs- hand etched, steep, uneven and endless!!!
By the time we hauled our cases up, we were drenched in perspiration. Our room is fantasic and
has two shuttered windows overlooking the town. As we changed into cooler gear and freshened up, the church bells from two or three of the very nearby churches pealed loudly the hour's arrival, all slightly after each other! It sounded beautiful. Not so impressed the next day though when they shocked us out of bed at 7am - could have peeled me from the ceiling!!!!
We headed back down the stairs sans suitcases, in need of food and beverage. First up a cold beer in the small piazza, followed by vino Bianco and two local dishes. Me - a trofie pasta - a sauce made from pesto, crushed pine nuts, and garlic with small homemade spiral pasta with flakes of pecorino and green beans. For Siobhan, a black linguine pasta with prawns. Both were delicious. We took the afternoon very easy wandering around our quaint township looking at the shops, water, walkways and the diversity of tourist.
An early night beckoned as we looked forward to seeing the other four towns the next day.
Buona sera
Kelly & Siobhan xxx
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