We will be staying Levanto for 3 days or so as we are going to do some touristy stuff in a place called Cinque Terre. This place is a collection of towns on the coast, some are on hill tops but they are all stunning. It’s very hard to drive to them so we’ll be taking the train. We are really looking forward to checking them out!

The weather forecast looked dodgy for Day 85- sunny in the morning but rainy in the afternoon and evening. Dad and I decided to do the number one Levanto tourist activity on Tripadvisor in the morning. There is a cycle route built through a series of tunnels up the coast to a couple of towns. The route is flat and is only a 10km round trip! Sounded perfect!
The ride was exactly what I wanted. It wasn’t strenuous but still a good work out. The views of the sea were fantastic- check them out below!

It started to rain in the afternoon so we found ourselves cooped up in the van. Early evening rolled round so we had our normal dinner debate about what food we wanted to eat. Dad head out to buy some supplies from the supermarket but took a long time. He arrived back but didn’t have any supplies. Hmmmm. A figure appeared at the door enquiring, “What’s for dinner?” It was Bridget!!!! What a brilliant surprise! Dad was in on it but he kept the secret well hidden from us! Top effort from B for making the trip and for bringing the holy porridge oats!

B’s arrival meant I was spared my customary cooking duties as we went out for dinner (cheers B!). We went to a lovely restaurant and had an epic meal. Cold cuts, tomatoes, mozzarella and pizza all featured. Check out the delicious treats below!

Everyone was in high spirits with the arrival of B! We were excited about the trip to Cinque Terre tomorrow!

Day 86 saw the sun return! It had rained during the evening and night but had cleared up by the morning. We decided to visit Riomaggiore and Manarola of the Cinque Terre towns. These two were the last stops on the train so we thought it would be wise to work backwards. There are five towns in Cinque Terre and they are linked by a very convenient train line. We got the two day pass because we’ll be back for the other three towns tomorrow. Bridge had made the inspired decision to buy Dad a selfie stick. His love of selfies is well known so be prepared for all kinds of pics with our lovely mugs in them.

First stop was Riomaggiore. It was quite busy when we arrived and full of tourists. We wandered about the streets taking in the sights. We made our way to a viewing platform to get a better view of the town. The buildings were a mixture of faded colours so they look pretty cool nestled into the cliffs. Check out the snaps below.

We waited in a very busy station for the train to Manarola. The sun was blazing and I didn’t have any sun cream on- a potential disaster for a pasty boy like me. When we got off in Manarola, it was heaving so it took an age to exit. Eventually we made our way to a bakery to purchase some treats for lunch. Once again, Italy delivered a feast of bread and pastry delights that kept us quiet while we stuffed our faces.

While we sat on a bench eating lunch, a lady came down and sat next to us. We quickly got talking and found out she was from America and here on holiday with her pals. The convo soon got onto my trip. Dot was very impressed and kindly spread the word to her friends. We met Gail and Pat, who were also both enthusiastic and impressed with my cycling. They kindly made a donation and went on their way. It was a touching moment, thank you. I hope you ladies enjoy the rest of your trip!

After lunch, we explored Manarola. We preferred this town to Riomaggiore because it was prettier and the views were far more impressive. Check out Tim’s expert camera skills with these photos (as well as some selfies!). Superb stuff!
An awesome first day spent in Cinque Terre. Hopefully tomorrow brings more of the same. A perfect few days for Bridget to visit!