Saturday, May 30 – La Spezia to Lavagna transfer day via Cinque Terre

We had to pack up and load the van before departing for Cinque Terre as we would not be returning for long when we returned. Our Rotarian host for the day came with us from the hotel. We stopped at Cinque Terre’s small food product production center (that is soon moving into one of the 5 towns) and were told about the national park. The Cinque Terre are farming villages more than fishing villages. And cars can go in, just not tourist’s cars (they must walk, take a train, a boat, or one of the electric vehicles operated by Cinque Terre. It is a national park, but because of what man did to it rather than how it would have been before humans altered it. The terraces and agriculture of the area are what needs to be preserved to maintain the beauty of the area. The park encourages farming by the hundreds of people who own plots on the terraces (the people of Cinque Terre) through the purchasing of the produce and herbs and the production of soaps, lotions, foods, and wines.

Our tour guide with products of Cinque Terre.

Our tour of the 5 villages began on a hillside overlooking them. We climbed up for a while, then had the option of taking this cart on a track (look at the photos! It is impossible to fully describe!) used for moving materials and produce (and people from time to time!) up and down the terraced slopes. At the top we could see the villages spread along the coast. So picturesque! We worked our way back down the hill (I joined Gianni and Ruth and our host on the cart this time) back to the van.

3 Italian Men - the head of Cinque Terre's farming collective (and our cart driver!), our Rotarian host, and Gianni.

Ruth, Gianni, & Kelli start off on the cart!

The silhouette of the cart ride.

Ruth and Gianni on the cart. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Future Cinque Terre wine.

The terraces up a hill.

The coast and slopes of the Cinque Terre.

A few farmed terraces in the midst of the overgrown.

Driving into the second village, we hiked down the streets, stopping at a museum, a church, a shop and production place for the Cinque Terre products, and just enjoying the idyllic town. This was our first stop with large numbers of American tourists around – thanks to Rick Steves!

Me in Manarolo (one of the 5 villages).

We began our walk along the Via dell’Amore and ate lunch on the coastal path, half of us actually sitting where we could look through the flooring straight down upon the rocks far below! Delicious food! Unbeatable location!

The view from our lunch location...dubbed "The seat of death" by those of us perched in plastic chairs upon it.

Jim samples the product while I watch.

Ruth and Gianni try the local products.

We continued strolling along the Via dell’Amore, pausing to take many, many pictures. We reached the next village, Riomaggiore, with colorful boats and buildings reached through a tunnel. We then hiked up from the water, got in another van, and were taken back to the bus. I can see why Americans all go there! Amazing!

Gates, love, and locks on the Via dell'Amore (the two ahead are not lovers - they are our tour guide and Kelli leading the way).

The symbol of the Via dell'Amore - in silhouette.

Things that float...on dry land...in Riomaggiore.

The boats and buildings of Riomaggiore.

After returning our host to La Spezia, we started on the road to Lavagna. We made a pit stop, where Jim spotted what appeared to be an American-style football team. They were Italians and they do play American football. They were headed to a game that night in Chiavari, where we were staying. Jim got the information so he could try to attend the game.

Meeting the football players (as in American football!).

We were met in Lavagna (where we were actually staying) by husband and wife architects and Rotarians, Bruna and Marco. Chiavari is just across a river from Lavagna and they helped Jim figure out how to get to the football game. They informed me of a children’s theatre festival in another nearby town. I was enthralled by the line-up, but just too exhausted to catch the train or a bus down the coast to the festival. I stayed low-key, reading on the hotel’s rooftop terrace before going to bed.

The setting sun over the sea in Lavagna - as seen from our hotel's rooftop balcony.