Okay up at 6:30 am because I was all excited about having a regular good old fashioned North American coffee. Albeit instant. Boiled wate, put coffee in and sip away... oh the aroma. I have tried but I just don't get cappuccinos and expresso coffee. I want Tim's, hell I like McDonald's coffee. But I want coffee....enough said

Woke periwinkle up at the crack of 10am with a strong game plan, 75 percent researched and 25 percent let's see what happens. Out the door by 11 and off to the train station and purchase 2 tickets for 4 euros each. We think they're good for 4 hours of travel or 24 hours we can't figure it out. In any case no one is on the train to check .

So Dominique kicked arse on the ticket dispenser and we get our two tickets in hand. Now we have to scan the ticket. Wholly crap it actually worked, not like those Roman ticket dispensers. We get on our train that comes every 1/2 hour and off to Manarola which is literally a 1 km ride. We get off through a tunnel and explore the area. Absolutely beautiful, right on sea edge. We search for a lunch spot and find a place advertising chicken and potatoes. Meat, oh boy....I am so in. Nice meal and another one of those tasty beers.

Off to the train station and continue west to Corniglia, the middle down of Cinq Terre. As we are waiting, the platform is filling up more and more and more. Train arrives and we're off. We end up getting standing room between the cars. It's okay, it's only a two minute ride.

Corniglia train is at sea level. Corniglia is not....as we walk, I look ahead and I see stairs, then bush......is that the top? Walk a little further, see stairs, continue and lose site of them, that must be the top? Nope, walk a little further and come to the base of the stairs, and Periwinkle does not look like she likes me very much. Up we go, and go and go and go. Okay, made it.....time for a gelato which made us both happy....beautiful little village of about 1000 people stacked one on top of the other. We walked around, bought some wine, etc and then walked back to the train. So on our way back down, somewhere around step 110, I turn the corner and bump my bald bare head directly into a overhanging cactus. Yep right in the head. I look at it and think this ain't good but there is no look of horror from Dominique. The image in my head is having twenty needles sticking out of my head and people gasping in horror. It's worse, not one cactus needle could penetrate this thick skull.. That my friends is a fine example of why I could sustain all those concussions over time. A thick skull baby.

So how many steps to the top you ask? 375 friggin steps...and 375 friggin steps back down the mountain. Don't forget all the steps to get us from our bnb to the train station and back (about 200 each way) and many inclines. Man, these people are sturdy.

Made it to the train and 5 minutes later back in Riogimorre. Now the trek up the mountain to our villa..... so now we are in for the night having a sandwich and some more spaghetti. Tomorrow off to Vernazza and Monterosso.

See ya