Transit day - Cinque Terra to Amalfi Coast.Bump out of our 'Aptmt 45' in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terra this morning for 6 min train trip to La Spezia, a train change to Rome and anither to Naples for collection by our trusty driver ( we hope!) to Praiano on Amalfi coast.
Love European trains - fast, can see the country, more leg room than on a plane, you can get up and walk around, luggage is with you, no waiting for it to be uoaded (if it isn't lost in transit) and you end up in the city centres. First class great, won't break the bank!
Route took us via Massa with great views of snow in the mountains, huge blocks of Carrera marble in Carrera storage, and hues of green everywhere of varying heights and shapes. Pine forests with high, umbrella shape canopies, lines of candle pines, olive plantations, vineyards, baled hay, paddocks of sunflower seeds, swathes of bamboo, terra cotta rooftops, the odd old castle in strategic high positions.
A great entrance to Pisa with views of the old city wall and the river.
(Hazel decided not to bolt for Internet cafe to see if her wallet was still there. Wise move!)
Livorno, then to Roma. An easy 15 minute changeover to Napoli. .....mountain behind Napoli shrouded in cloud as we arrived at the train station, collected by our excellent driver Raphaella, a 3rd generation Sorrento man who took us past Pompeii, along the coast road to Sorrento, Portofino then our accommodation at Locanda Costa Diva in Praiano del Costa. We are midway between Positano and Amalfi.
The hotel is in a divine spot, Hazel's & my room with a deck over the ocean.
Dinner was fresh 'lemon fish' simply grilled with lashings of lemon juice