I must admit we have been much more active on this leg of our journey than the others. With four day trips in less than a week we were pretty tired at night to do much writing. This post includes the three other day trips we took aside from the marathon of the Cinque Terre. It also has four picture galleries so keep scrolling!
After a rest day we decided on Wednesday to explore the small communities of San Teranzo and Lerici that are southeast of La Spezia. Lovely towns that had a similar feel to the big five but not as crowded. You could easily get a table at the seaside restaurant and find a spot to place your towel for a swim without the crush of many other people trying to do the same thing. We took local transit to San Teranzo and then walked along the sea to Lerici. Once in Lerici it was time for a cold drink and a light snack. We have found that most of the time when we sit down and order a drink we get some kind of nibbles too. Many places serve a variety of chips or olives, here in Lerici we had some wonderful focaccia topped with tomatoes and some prosciutto finger sandwiches. Both were very tasty.
The call of the sea was too great for Henrik, it was also pretty hot so we decided to take a walk out to the small breakwater and find a place to take a quick dip. There were a few families and a group of young boys (11 or 12) playing with a soccer ball. After Henrik jumped into the water the boys began kicking and throwing the ball around. it did not take long for one of them to throw it off the breakwater and into the sea. I could not help myself and said to them that one of them had to go and get the ball. The tallest of the three came up to me and leaned against the rock in a stance far too mature for his age (you know the one with one arm stretched above the head and the other on the hip) and in a combination of Italian and English told me that he did not understand “go and get the ball…”. I laughed and told him that he knew what he had to do. So in a showing of great machismo he leaped off the breakwater and swam towards the ball. I hate to say it but are all Italian males born with that level of confidence? Shortly after Henrik returned from his swim.
Thursday it was off to Portovenere southwest of La Spezia. This town, like so many in this region is built on a hill. There was talk of taking a little ferry to the island of Palmaria and hiking around but it was hot and after we found Lord Byron’s Grotto there was little incentive to go anywhere else.
June 2nd is Republic Day here in Italy so were were not too sure if there would anything open. We decided to again skip the crowd and take a less traveled hike from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare. What we had read about the trail that it was not too difficult and that there was some beautiful views from the mountain ridges. It was another hot day and by the time we made it back to Monterosso we headed for some food and then to the beach. As it was a Saturday and a long weekend to boot, everywhere was packed. The restaurant that we choose for lunch told us that anything other than pizza would be a wait; this was a change from home. We enjoyed a carafe of house white wine (it was okay; sweet and the colour of apple juice) and a pizza each. We both took some time to cool off in the sea before heading back to La Spezia on the bus.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” src=”http://[2600:1f13:e3b:9100:ae18:b451:18d2:e990]/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Italian-Riviera.jpg” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]The Italian Riviera
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://[2600:1f13:e3b:9100:ae18:b451:18d2:e990]/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/resize_IMG_8064.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]Squash blossoms at the market in La Spezia
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://[2600:1f13:e3b:9100:ae18:b451:18d2:e990]/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/resize_IMG_8107.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]Mother Nature sculpture overlooking the sea in Portovenere
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://[2600:1f13:e3b:9100:ae18:b451:18d2:e990]/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/resize_IMG_8137.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]The hiking trail from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]The Market at La Spezia
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]The market in La Spezia is open from early in the morning until noon everyday save Sunday. It is held in a covered square in the middle of town along Corso Cavour. It is brilliant!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery admin_label=”Gallery” gallery_ids=”2376,2377,2378,2379,2380,2381,2382,2383,2384,2385,2386,2387,2388,2389,2390″ fullwidth=”off” orientation=”landscape” show_title_and_caption=”on” show_pagination=”on” background_layout=”light” auto=”off” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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