Day 11:
A bus tour to cinque terre - €85 each. Left at 7am from the train station, with our guide armedeaus, an egyptian guy who could fluently speak nine languages and was convinced that I would make a great tour guide escort.
First stop was La spezia by bus, then ferry to porto venere, then the 3rd village vernazza which was gorgeous and had the second best gelato in the world ... Yum. I had coconut and peach, mum had coconut and blueberry. Only 40 mins at vernazza then back on the ferry to monterosso, the largest island.
It's 38 degrees and so humid. We stopped for lunch at the restaurant armadeus recommended and has seafood ravioli and limone veal scallopine. Wasn't great but quite nice. Bit expensive
Then we had two more hours to walk around and look at shops. I walked down to the beach which was really like blue metal dust instead of sand. The sand was so hot but the water was really refreshing.
More gelato then a train ride back to la spezia and the bus back to Florence. Met Sarah and Nicole two girls from US who were lovely and told us nice places to eat and visit. Also met Christine who was just like a mini Lucy and completely drove everyone nuts. Was really funny, she had to go back to the first village coz she left her credit card behind.
Got back around 7:30 and found a little restaurant and had a plate of tomato and basil spaghetti finally and yum ... was just beautiful. Mum had risotto al fungi which she loved then we both had creme brûlée and coffee.