ITALY
31st October - I heard of this place... Lets go there
The night before I had arranged to meet Jeremy and Caitlin in La spezia to go to the place Jeremy had heard about... It had a castle and beyond that we didn't know much more.
After finally figuring out the train timetable I arrived at La Spezia and waited with baited breathe that I had the arrangements right and they were going to turn up. Not sure ill ever get used to that feeling but on the up side I was there ON TIME!
They turned up after my countless checking of my phone.... Totally my anxiety not them. We found out info from the information desk....though note I didn't say what information we received.... not what we asked for lol. Found the local bus and jumped on. We travelled for quite a while through suburban areas and I won't lie there were a few moments where I was questioning where the hell are we and where the hell are we going?
The anticipation was worth it. We arrived in a little town called Lerici. It was a lovely seaside town. We wandered around looking at the boats, the piazzas and i got my first lot of gelato well sorbet for me - yummo, persimmon and manadrin. I was hoping this would be the first of many.
We then went exploring the town and followed a windy road to go see the infamous castle.It was worth the small walk to see the town from above. The castle was actually a toy museum, though wasn't open. Caitlin and Jeremy went exploring and i was quite happy to sit and contemplate.... i was getting quite good at sitting and being still, staying off my phone and just absorbing the time and place...its hard!!!! it was really nice just watching the birds flying over head and the sun hitting the water.
They arrived back from their little jaunt where Jeremy took the opportunity for a dip. We went exploring and found a cafe for lunch and actually had a tuna salad...surprisingly i was craving salad...i know what's wrong with me!!!
Lunch and hanging out with Jeremy and Caitlin was lovely. Its amazing that two people who less than 24 hrs before where absolute strangers and now we were chatting like old friends. I don't know whether its a holiday thing, a relaxed attitude or just good luck but its wonderful. Makes me wonder about me. I have berated myself often (as have my friends) for being too trusting an open when meeting new people...granted there are times when they are right!! but actually on this trip it seems to be serving me well.
The three of us jumped back on a public bus and headed back to La Spezia. We had to say a quick good bye as they got off nearer to their hotel. Okay...deep breath..... its amazing how when in a group even if you have no idea where to go it is much easier to feel comfortable. So i sat on the bus looking like a hyperactive meerkat looking for what may look like a train station. Found the train station and got in line for a ticket whilst watching the seedy looking guy. Found the right platform and got on the right train. i waited, waited, waited, waited....no one seemd to be at all concerned, no onw was worried, no one made any efforts to find out or tllus anything.... the train eventually made its way back to Monterosso an hour and forty minites later!!!!!!!! WTF?? It should have taken 20 minutes. Thats the thing with Italian trains...they have lets say a relaxed approach to timetables lol
Made my way up the familiar streets of Monterosso and collapsed in my hotel room. Went back into town and tried a different restauarnt by myself. Still hard moving past families, couples and others and smiling while they remove the place setting from in front of you. I managed...lifes hard when your in a beautiful sea side town in Italy lol
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ITALY
1st November - regroup, cruising again Port Venere
So the next day, once again on my own i took the opportunity to sleep in and even missed free breakfast!!! A huge sacrifice! I decided to try and see the remining towns by sea and enquired about the cruise. We were told in no uncertain circumstances that the office opened at 2. So i went in serach of a cheap meal and found and actually helped other people to order lol...who would have thought.
I queued up with many others at 2:30 and was confused as to which boat i should get on. My gut told me stick with all the others on the boat that was full but the angry Itlaian told me otherwise...oh well what will be will be. I stayed upstairs watching the 5 towns that make up the Cinque Terre area from the sea. I was quite lovely.
The cruise ended up in Port Venere. No idea what it was about but it was a great little find. I wandered around the area. It was beautiful. I found a cafe on the point ordered myself a caf americano...see I'm being to be sooooo Italian you can barely tell I'm Australian(NOT) lol. I feel I have holiday meditation underway, where I'm happy to let my mind wander not settling too much on anything but watching thinking being
I made my way back to the boat and sailed back via the five towns, actually pulling into each port. So the trip actually worked out, straight trip to Port Venere and then seeing all the towns on the way back. Maybe a lesson to learn, just let things reveal themself and make the best of it. One thing i was lacking was anyone to talk to lol. I hadn't spoken to anyone the whole day and that didn't seem to be coming to an end anytime soon :(. Probably good for me. What i have noticed aboout Italians thus far is that they are incredibly affectionate, men seem to adore, worship the woman they are with, can barely keep their hands off eachother...lucky them.
Back 'home' again to Monterosso and helped a lost American chick find the nearest loo, gee im full of helpful information. Had dinner bak at the first place i had had dinner. The not so friendly waiter finally warmed up a little and i got a kiss on both cheeks...firm friends now!! Back to the hotel room, packed up and mentally prepared for the journey home.
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