Boat trip Monterosso to Portovenere.

There were no walks scheduled for today, people were doing their own thing. I considered a walk northwards from Moneglia but fancied a change and the weather forecast was for morning rain. So after a leisurely start, I meant to say the breakfasts at the hotel have been excellent,  I was on the train to Monterosso again. From here I was joining the tourists on the boat trip down the Cinque Terre coast and on to Portovenere. Actually there weren’t many people on the little boat as it was miserably damp. All the five towns were viewed from the sea which gave a different perspective to the walking days. We called in at Vernazza, Moneglia and Riomaggiore, Corniglia doesn’t have a harbour.

MONTEROSSO.

VERNAZZA.

CORNIGLIA.

MANAROLA.

RIOMAGGIORE.

I stayed on for the longer leg to Portovenere. By now the weather was stormy and most people had retreated off the upper deck. This a much larger town, again a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the far end of the peninsula before La Spezia Bay. Its harbour is lined with brightly coloured houses. All these towns seem to have perfect pastel painted houses, I wonder if there is a plan or colour coordinating police?Narrow medieval streets lead up the hill to a castle and a church on the promontory, once the site of a temple to Venus (Venere in Italian) from which Portovenere gets its name. The main street, lined with shops, is entered through an ancient city gate. Here a small family cafe, Bar Zurigo, rather than one of the expensive restaurants was chosen for a lunch of Anchovies with a view over the harbour. By now the sun had come out and I strolled up the hill to the church and views up the rocky coastline and across La Spezia bay to Palmaria Island.

A tortuous bus ride to La Spezia and then the train back to Moneglia. I’m becoming very familiar with the stations on route but the line generally is disappointing due to all the tunnels, it serves a purpose.