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Through the tall doorway pictured behind Kelsie, and up the stairs leads eventually to fabulous views of Vernazza, and to the steep pathway that leads to Monterosso.  In the opposite direction lie the towns of Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
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Italy - Vernazza
We arrived in Vernazza by train.  Vernazza is city # 2 in the 5 town chain known as Cinque Terre -  small villages built into the steep rockly coastline of northwestern Italy.  We walked down the single street leading toward the pier, passing cats waiting patiently outside the shops for a piece of fish or other treat.  Fishing boats lined the main plaza that day as the waves were crashing high over the rocks.  We rented a large family style room overlooking the plaza from Franca Maria, who spoke very little English, but was very accomodating.  The room was newly tiled, painted and decorated, and had a modern bath with shower for 200.000 IL ($100)  per night for the 6 of us.  The XIV-century gothic church of Santa Margherita di Antiocha was directly across the plaza from our window, and created a wonderful view. 

Last updated on January 18, 2002

The kids were at home in no time, running up the street to buy foccacia bread for dinner, or the gelateria for ice cream.  It was the first time since arriving in Europe that they could roam freely.  Before long they were the favorite tourists of all the shopkeepers.There are no cars allowed in these small villages, only a few small maintenance vehicles. After spending a few minutes out on the pier watching the waves, the kids returned to our room soaking wet. 

March was a wonderful time to visit the Cinque Terre - we missed all the crowds.
You can see us peering out the window overlooking the plaza.  Outside all the other windows, brightly colored laundry was flapping in the breeze, hung out to dry. 
One can hike from one end of the villages to the other along a steep rocky coastline.  This is a nice view of Manarola - village number 4, going toward Rome.  We were hiking along the terraced hills where the villagers raise small gardens, grapes, lemon and orange trees.
The ancient fortress sitting on the rocky outcrop is a very picturesque restaurant.  This is Karianne with our favorite waiter.  We gave him a box of 'American' chocolates for a treat.  He returned the favor by giving us a bottle of Italian wine. 


Every once in a while a giant wave would crash over the rocks sending spray through the cracks around the old porthole doors and windows. 

Through the tall doorway pictured behind Kelsie, and up the stairs leads eventually to fabulous views of Vernazza, and to the steep pathway that leads to Monterosso.  In the opposite direction lie the towns of Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.