.Cinque Terre..!!!

That was fun. A few things. Someone had written about "just park at La Spezia train station" ..which was our plan. Well there was only thirty minute parking there. The city is very big and crowded. I think I was thinking of something more like Petticoat Junction!At this point we were driving around,getting somewhat lost,in a lot of traffic,getting frustrated.
There was parking around the city but you had to get a ticket from a machine which we didnt understand,so we just drove to Riomaggiore which was fine. The drive is not bad and there was a parking garage right there.

We walked the first four towns.missed the last one. The hike between Corniglia and Vernazza was the prettiest,and most difficult,took about an hour and a half,just a bit less maybe..be sure to have water and good shoes on!!We are in pretty good shape and found it much more than a stroll.Lots of stairs and uphill.

The towns are just beachy type towns. No great finds in stores.Mostly Tshirts etc.. Our friends had gone on a different day. Took the boat to one town. Actually didnt walk any of them..and guess what! Didnt like it! The walk is really the whole thing. Very fun to see where you ve come from and going to.. I did think the trains came more often. We finally got to Vernazza at 5:15,dreaming of that beer by the water. But we checked the schedule and found it came in two minutes or an hour and a half! We never did get to walk into the town! Had the beer in Riomaggiore instead.
So check the schedules when you get there to plan your time.
I think thats it. We left Lucca in the morning and picked up our car around 10;30,we were back at 8 ish.

Tomorrow on to La Maesta! the villa and surrounding towns,and ..Florence..