What do you do when you become too complacent where you're staying in a town? You catch an express train to Pisa!! We realised 5 minutes in, but luckily it stopped 30 mins later & we could return. Oops. Totally fell in love with Corniglia today. So different from the other towns that make up Cinque Terre. A STEEP climb up stairs to the town to be greeted by the Church bells. Surrounded by vineyard terraces, this town is the only one without a working port. I...

Very quiet in the mornings, as the nights are so late. A few fitness types out but a calm sea & few people make it seem a different place. Had breakfast in the hotel foyer, the staff couldn't be more helpful, then started our day at Riomaggiore, the last of the 5 towns that make the Cinque Terre. Very steep town & lots of places weren't open as we were so early. We tried to get to the highest point to get the lay of the land. A small harbour, beautiful c...

Gorgeous breakfast on the terrace. This place really is out of this world. So high & still the peaks are higher. The moon rises right opposite the outside dining area, huge & majestic- and so late in the evening. Walked into town this morning to see the view across the rooftops & church steeple, then met Nick in the square for a drink. The Bastille Day preparations are under way. Walked through this historic village known for its boot trade & so...

So sad to leave another gorgeous Aunt & Uncle, but we have been blessed to have spent the last 9 days in France with Dad's side of the family & share their incredible summer life in France. We simply wouldn't have experienced the things we have without them. Waved au revoir from the Antibes train station, destination - Monterosso, Italy. The first train was packed due to the Bastille Day long weekend, but we were going further than most day trippers, so...

Went into the village on the back of Nick's motorbike to pick up the croissants for breakfast at their local Boulanger. How very French. Walked around the local market, bought some shorts & had crepes. Packed up the car & headed for the Côte d’Azur coastline, with its bluest of blue waters on one side & mountains of pink rock on the other. Jill & Nick knew of a cove away from the crowds where we could stop for a baguette & a swim. So hard t...