Cinque Terre
Apr 6th, 2012, 12:37 PM
#41
Cheating on a bus fare? WHERE in god's name did I suggest such a thing? Because I mentioned that they often don't check your tickets? When, in fact, the shuttle from Corniglia RR to Corniglia in town is pretty much, in fact, a complimentary shuttle?
fwiw: I've been accused of many things in my life, dear zeppole, but dishonesty is not one of them.
Seriously, zeppole: you turn people off. If I weren't as frequent a visitor to Italy over the last 40 years as I have been, your posts would not encourage me to go.
fwiw: I've been accused of many things in my life, dear zeppole, but dishonesty is not one of them.
Seriously, zeppole: you turn people off. If I weren't as frequent a visitor to Italy over the last 40 years as I have been, your posts would not encourage me to go.
Apr 6th, 2012, 12:40 PM
#42
zeppole, I didn't realize you hadn't been to CT "in a long time." That explains a lot. I've been 5 times in the last 8 years, most recently in October 2011. You really do not know of what you speak.
Apr 6th, 2012, 03:37 PM
#45
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"I don't feel sorry for you annettefly"
Don't remember asking you to feel sorry for me. I think all I've asked for is to be treated with respect.
"you can't be that broke" Oh. I have asked for advice about spending my money wiselyto
Don't remember asking you to feel sorry for me. I think all I've asked for is to be treated with respect.
"you can't be that broke" Oh. I have asked for advice about spending my money wiselyto
Apr 6th, 2012, 04:09 PM
#48
You're right, annettafly. Except that I felt guilty for some reason: like I should have done something to have prevented the flood; or like maybe if I hadn't left it wouldn't have happened; or maybe if I hadn't been there when I was, it wouldn't have happened. I know: crazythinking. 
Apr 6th, 2012, 07:01 PM
#49
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We were there this past fall and while my experience is recent, it has already changed since then. We were there in November - about 3 weeks after the flood and my eldest DD was so disappointed not to be able to hike CT. However, we were able to:
- drove to Riomaggiore, parked, walked through town.
- walked to Manarola along the via dell'Amore. This is an easy walk - paved virtually the entire way. This was the only walking path that was open.
- took the train to Corniglia. We did walk up the steps and if you are not young (at heart) or it is warm, the shuttle is probably a better option. There are lots of switchbacks and the stairs are long (many require 2 strides), but if you take your time (and there are lots of people doing exactly that), you'll be fine.
- had lunch in Corniglia. I don't remember that our lunch was terribly expensive, nor was it embarrassingly cheap. I do remember that it was delicious though! (pesto... yum!)
- took the train back to Manarola. stopped in town for gelato. apparently, we are fat, however, it was the kids that ate gelato, not me, and since they still can't hold their jeans up because they are too skinny, I'm okay with them eating gelato every day (and sometimes 2x in a day!).
- walked back to Riomaggiore. walked through town. stopped and got fresh strawberries at a grocery store to eat in the car. Wished we had bought more, because wow! they were amazing! (see, kids CAN eat healthy, too).
We had to be careful about train schedules because it was off-season and I think trains were only running every hour. Vernazza was closed to trains and car traffic. While my daughter was disappointed, it gives us a reason to go back. She handled it extremely well and this is what makes me proud of her - how she handles herself with disappointment, not how she handles herself when things are easy.
Oh... I just remembered - we were actually there on Thanksgiving day - instead of turkey, I had pesto. I'll take that pesto any T-giving.
have a great trip.
- drove to Riomaggiore, parked, walked through town.
- walked to Manarola along the via dell'Amore. This is an easy walk - paved virtually the entire way. This was the only walking path that was open.
- took the train to Corniglia. We did walk up the steps and if you are not young (at heart) or it is warm, the shuttle is probably a better option. There are lots of switchbacks and the stairs are long (many require 2 strides), but if you take your time (and there are lots of people doing exactly that), you'll be fine.
- had lunch in Corniglia. I don't remember that our lunch was terribly expensive, nor was it embarrassingly cheap. I do remember that it was delicious though! (pesto... yum!)
- took the train back to Manarola. stopped in town for gelato. apparently, we are fat, however, it was the kids that ate gelato, not me, and since they still can't hold their jeans up because they are too skinny, I'm okay with them eating gelato every day (and sometimes 2x in a day!).
- walked back to Riomaggiore. walked through town. stopped and got fresh strawberries at a grocery store to eat in the car. Wished we had bought more, because wow! they were amazing! (see, kids CAN eat healthy, too).
We had to be careful about train schedules because it was off-season and I think trains were only running every hour. Vernazza was closed to trains and car traffic. While my daughter was disappointed, it gives us a reason to go back. She handled it extremely well and this is what makes me proud of her - how she handles herself with disappointment, not how she handles herself when things are easy.
Oh... I just remembered - we were actually there on Thanksgiving day - instead of turkey, I had pesto. I'll take that pesto any T-giving.
have a great trip.
Apr 13th, 2012, 11:46 AM
#51
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I will be visiting Cinque Terre for three nights at the end of May. I will be arriving from Milan and be staying in Riomaggiore. Would it be best to take a train route through Genoa or to La Spezia. Also, I would like to ask for guidance on where to purchase a multi-day train ticket and whether that includes the park pass being referred to in other posts. Thanks in advance.
Apr 13th, 2012, 03:08 PM
#52
Either way will get you there, jjrod. It just depends upon when you are leaving Milan, and how many train changes you are willing to make, how much time you want to spend on train, etc. You should Trenitalia's website, despite frequent complaints about it, is actually very helpful in planning your route.
http://www.lefrecce.it/B2CWeb/search...initBaseSearch
You buy the multi-day train tickets at any of the CT train stations. The park pass is included. You have to remember to validate the train ticket at the first station you use it, else you can get a nice fat penalty (as we did our first time in CT!)
http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/5terrecard.htm
http://www.lefrecce.it/B2CWeb/search...initBaseSearch
You buy the multi-day train tickets at any of the CT train stations. The park pass is included. You have to remember to validate the train ticket at the first station you use it, else you can get a nice fat penalty (as we did our first time in CT!)
http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/5terrecard.htm
Apr 13th, 2012, 05:02 PM
#54
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Spent three nights in Vernazza in May a few years ago in a really cute apartment up above the train station. The seas were high so we could not take a ferry. We walked between a few of the villages and then got on a super jampacked train back to Vernazza. When I got off the train my tiny wallet purse that was under my jacket was hanging open. I had been pickpocketed on the milk run to Vernazza! I know it was the young girl I was jammed up against, she was a pro and got a wad o' Euro (but not my passport.) I had just navigated Rome, Naples, and Florence without incident and I guess I let my guard down in the lovely CT. Enjoy but be aware, the polizia told us that pickpocketers ride those trains all day!
Apr 13th, 2012, 05:26 PM
#55
vivi, not to discount your experience, which I am sure was very upsetting, but I have ridden those trains many, many times without a single "incident". Nor have I been warned by anybody (including police) about pickpockets riding those trains "all day!"
Apr 13th, 2012, 05:42 PM
#56
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Oh, I am so amazed and thrilled to hear that Vernazza has returned to life! Yes, please go there and spend some money! I thought it would take them much longer to welcome visitors again -- or even to make the place habitable for its residents.
Apr 13th, 2012, 08:03 PM
#57
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Ok so not really on topic but I need to tell all of you and the world, that zeppole is an amazing resource to all of us who trawl the forums here. I have been looking for information on cinque trireme and Santa margherita ligure and zeppole is so devoted to educating all of us! Thank you, Zeppole! Please now how much you are appreciated !!!
Apr 17th, 2012, 05:05 AM
#58
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Thanks for your comment LucieV! I understand the train station in Genoa is very busy so I think I may instead go to Pisa Centrale for a connection to La Spezia. Any thoughts on this? How difficult is it to navigate through Genoa?
Apr 17th, 2012, 10:12 AM
#59
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I too plan on visiting Cinque Terre on a day trip the first week of June with my family of 4 teenagers. Our home base is a rented villa near Fiesole and we will have a rented minivan. Because there will be 6-8 of us going I thought that it might be less expensive to drive to CT and then leave the van somewhere and take the train and hike the area. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to leave the van or a better suggestion for getting there?
Also, the suggestions of pizza and gelato sound wonderful as does the idea of a picnic. Is there anyplace that we should not miss that would particularly appeal to teenagers? This will be my children's first time out of the country and I really want to make the most of it without trying to fit in too much.
Also, the suggestions of pizza and gelato sound wonderful as does the idea of a picnic. Is there anyplace that we should not miss that would particularly appeal to teenagers? This will be my children's first time out of the country and I really want to make the most of it without trying to fit in too much.
Apr 17th, 2012, 10:17 AM
#60
I've never had a problem w/the Genoa RR, but if you're worried about it, I do think Pisa-La Spezia connection may be a bit more "user-friendly." The connections are smooth as silk. Also, if you're worried about it, always remember that there will be another train coming soon. There are worse things than being in Italy having to wait a half hour or an hour for the next train. ;-)
And don't hesitate to ask people for help. So many people speak English, and the majority of people (both travelers and residents) are more than happy to assist with information, etc. One of the best of many wonderful things about Italy, imo, is the people.
And don't hesitate to ask people for help. So many people speak English, and the majority of people (both travelers and residents) are more than happy to assist with information, etc. One of the best of many wonderful things about Italy, imo, is the people.
