La Spezia

We had a gentle stroll around Manarola this morning, taking in the pizza-box perfect views. The wind has come up overnight so the Mediterranean is showing its tougher side with waves breaking dramatically on the rocks.

We had a picnic lunch by the boat ramp which convinced us all that a small siesta was required.

Then we set off for La Spezia on the train. The train here is in theory simple – it’s one line down the coast. The reality is that the huge numbers of people traveling make this a deeply unpleasantly crowded experience.

La Spezia is a pretty town with a useful pedestrian area. We stopped for an apero at a bar with an extensive cocktail menu. Then we had a fantastic dinner at a restaurant with a greeter who spent way too much time touching me – really, it was a thing. Amazing food and a great experience though.