The intrepid explorers spent today gaining bearings & considering a plan of attack for the Amalfi Coast. Having survived the non footpathed narrow 2 lane main 'highway' into Praiano by foot, checked out the odd point of interest including shops. Church in Praiano has magnificent modern sculptured bronze doors - see pics, and ceramic tiled dome. Sussed out the local bus system & wound the 5 kms by road, (probably 1km as the crow flies), into Praiano expl...

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) a...

Took ferry to Monterosso, stopping at all Cinque Terra towns on the way to check out statue of Neptune carved into the rocks & a couple of churches. The Italian designer shop had a 50% sale on the way- bummer, the Armani pants fitted! Engineer Levacher & the artist Arrigo Minerbi collaborated in 1910 on a 14 metre concrete statue of Neptune bearing an enormous shell on his shoulder, originally used as a stage - you wouldnt want to get your dance steps w...

Finished the Cinque Terra walk today, doing Corneglia to Riomaggiore. The coastal track still closed, so went straight up the mountain on the 7a track, tough but worthwhile 0 - 360m in 45 min and 30 degrees C, then traversed across beautiful terraces in the shade of oaks, crossing streams, through the front garden of Casa se Pianca on track 6d. From there we traversed again through excruciatingly tiny terraces of vineyards hugging the cliff faces to Volastra, a ...

A day off the Cinque Terra track after Hazel's and my 7 hr effort yesterday! A ferry down the coast to Porto Venere, a great way to see the continuing mountainous terrain that drops steeply into the sea. Those who build and till the soil here are a hardy lot! The landslides during the 2011 storms and floods are still obvious. Porto Venere is a UNESCO site - a fortified village built in the 12th Century by the Genovese as a boundary stronghold. the economy was ...