Our guide like mentioned earlier is a girl and a very professional one at that. Her English and Spanish is flawless and she points us towards the ugliest building in Florence and I must admit it's an eyesore among all the beauty.
As we climb the hills to cinque terre the landscape changes. Breathtaking mountains descend into the Mediterranean. The air is fresh with the aromas of fresh pine. The cactus has flowers on it and the sea shimmers in the mid afternoon sun. It's picture postcard perfect.
As we get off at our parking lot,we are told that there are only three thousand people on that island. Cinque terre as the name suggests is a collection of five fishing villages along the Mediterranean coast of Italy. Life here isn't easy,floods have destroyed this area in the past,there are no medical facilities and the local people have had to toil on the harsh and dangerous terrain to farm the land. In winter it can become intolerable to live but as in all things beautiful it has its downside too. We climb down narrow steps and reach the first island of riomaggiore a small fishing village. We walk many steps down to the sea where fishing boats of all sizes are either bobbing on the water or drawn ashore. There is nothing much to see besides the Mediterranean but that is enough. In the sunshine the sea is in three shades of blue,pounding relentlessly on the rocks in a cascade of foam. The water is cool,the way to go down to the water is steal,the rocks slippery but the beauty is well worth it. I have seen the Mediterranean from many sides but it never fails to amaze me and hold me in its spell. Our next stop is to the next island and unfortunately because of rough seas we have to take a train instead of a boat. I am deeply disappointed. A sea ride was something I was looking forward to but it is not to be. The trains are packed with tourists and we are told to be very careful with our belongings as pick pockets abound. Used as we are to all the rouges in india it's not a big deal with us but the unsuspecting American is in danger. The rail tracks run along the sea and as we cross each tunnel the sea comes into view again. We are skipping one island as it involves climbing some tree hundred odd steps and our group doesn't look like they can handle it I am disappointed again as I was a.l ready to push myself.
Lunch is in a costal place with fish and pasta and it's homemade so great. Along the way we meet two women one judge and one attorney from the states. They are full of fun and have a great sense of humour but like most Americans they are not used to rough and tumble and are pretty shocked when our guide takes us off the railway platform into the tunnel to board the train. Of course in this small island it is actually the platform that goes into the tunnel but they take all the jokes on them like good sports and they are so much fun I am willing to change my view on the well travelled American a little bit.
At the end of a long day our feet are killing us with all the climbing but the sea is so calming and beautiful that I can gaze and gaze and like the poem,say I gaze and gaze and little thought what wealth the shore to me had brought. I am a great lover of the sea and can stay for hours near the water and not get tired of it. It was a great trip despite the train running late by twenty minutes,the boat ride not happening,the guid getting us into the wrong train and all but the guides are such nice girls we can stay mad at them for two long. A day well spent.
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