Cinque Terra

After all the fun and bustle of Nice and Monaco the placid Italian coastline is a welcome change. Life for the citizens of the Cinque Terra moves relatively slow, up and down the steep roads of these sunny fishing villages. We are staying in Monterosso, supposedly it is the most touristy of the 5 towns due to its nice beach, but I did not find it particularly different from the other villages, which were all packed with travellers and sightseers during the day. The Cinque Terra is famous for its rugged coastal walking trail, which links the 5 towns. The Cinque Terra is also famous for its fish. Forget everything you think you know about anchovies, because this is the place they are done right. Freshly caught early every morning and grilled with a little lemon for your meal, they are delectable. These places also offer a mean gelato. The Mediterranean is extremely refreshing, if a little chilly at first. One of the trails was closed due to a minor slide, expecting a speedy solution we were shocked to find that it would likely be more than a year before it was opened again – some work ethic!