Today was our adventure day…but it didn’t quite turn out as we planned.

After enjoying our breakfast on the hotel deck, we ventured out to Cinque Terra. Our plan was take the train to the first village (Monterosso) then to hike at least part of the trail between the villages.

Breakfast spot

Now the train we want is from Rapallo to Monterosso. The train is direct…except it is already booked. So we wait for the next one in an hour.

We learned to stamp out tickets (although I did stamp them upside down). The other notice would have been good to have at the Rome airport where Jay got on the train in time, but his backpack was stuck outside. Two police officers on the platform came to his rescue.

An hour later we board the train and although we are on the train going in the right direction…we are not on the right train. So we get off at one of stations and wait for the next train – but we still have another transfer to make. One stop later we get off and finally on the train bound for Monterosso. We are on our way.

I got to use my selfie stick and remote! Now I need to focus on smiling!

We immediately stop for lunch among the olive trees.

Now I need to just get us all in the picture.

Good thing we ate and cooled down, it is at least 90 degrees—and no relief from the pounding sun.

But we head out for the trail.

We head up the hill that says 1.2 kilometers to the next village. We hike for 20 minutes in the beating sun, and the next sign says 1.2 km to the next village.

And here is where we call it quits. Let’s take the ferry.

And that is Cinque Terra. We get off in the last village – Riomaggiori.

We hike up the hill and we pass nothing but cheap tourist traps. So we head back to queue up in the beating sun for the ferry trip back.

Jay is either directing the symphony or preparing to stand up

And we make it back to Monterosso and I run ahead….okay really I walk fast….and buy 4 train tickets for the next direct train to Rapallo that leaves in 15 minutes. It’s at this point I lose my companions – I want a picture of us all hot, disgusting and exhausted. In unison, they deny me.

So back to the hotel to regroup and see if we can manage to decontaminate ourselves and get to dinner. We do clean up and head down to the village for dinner.

I am losing my models! Veal scallopini Spaghetti with pesto Jay had scampi

And we call it a night! On to Florence tomorrow for 20 hours – we got a lot of shopping and museums to fit in.