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Farewell to Florence - today's photo is of David in all his glory for your viewing pleasure. I followed a group of policemen to their usual morning breakfast place and was rewarded with great pastry and mini panini and coffee for €4! Then it was time to say goodbye to my nice florentine family at the pensionne and start catching trains, first to Pisa and then to monterosso. My bag is too big to put in the overhead storage compartments so I left it in the entrance. I got a bit nervous when some African fare evaders got on just before Pisa and used it as a seat (as they had not paid for one), and thought there was going to be a punch up when the conductors came through. I understand there is immigration issues in Italy, and feel bad for them, these guys were not the least sorry they were caught and were extremely intimidating - and stank, my poor luggage got dosed in air freshener!
The arrival into monterosso is spectacular .... Nothing much, then a tunnel, then tracks along the ocean and glimpses of the villages. My hotel is at the top of a few steps (I knew in advance so took a taxi there), and I have a small but well equipped room with a big balcony with amazing views. To enter the township I have to walk past jasmine, through a rose garden, through a private citrus orchard through a gate to which I have keys and then I am there!
Luch was at a salumieri - local cheeses and salumi and wine, followed by rasberry and coconut gelato. I explored the township of monterosso, it is split in two by a hill and joined by a tunnel, and it is the only town of the 5 cinque terre towns that is on the beach. There are waterside cafes, umbrellas and people everywhere, and it has a very easygoing atmosphere. It is overcast and cooler, but I am glad to escape the heat for a while.
I stocked up on room supplies at a very local deli - great cheese, Ligurian olives, truffled mortadella (the smell is amazing) and limoncello as I have a fridge and that is pretty rare, and a balcony with a view.
I watched the nightly parade of people with kids, people with dogs, nonnas, the old men gossiping, the young men strutting, while waiting over an hour to be seated at a restaurant for dinner, only to be served a really ordinary meal - good gods they stewed the veal scallopini instead of pan frying it (I think they pan fried it but badly) and then gave me French fries instead of roast veges - my first tourist trap!
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