BY TRAIN FROM LA SPEZIA TO MONTEROSSO IN CINQUE TERRE

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Day 2: PISA - LA SPEZIA - MONTEROSSO

This morning it is time to get back early as in all trips of Street Travelers and more on this occasion in which at 8.26 in the morning we have a train from Pisa to La Spezia and then take another train from La Spezia to Monterroso.
This is one of the few times that in Italy we choose the train as a means of transport and we have to say that the official train website, the truth is that we have found it quite intuitive, so looking for different options we find Go Euro that has allowed us to do the reservation of all Cinque Terre trains in just a few minutes in a very easy and intuitive way.

We went down to breakfast at the breakfast room of the Modern Hotel at 7 o'clock in the morning and shortly before 8 am we are returning to the Centrale Station of Pisa, where we arrived yesterday.
The train from Pisa to La Spezia It takes approximately 1.14 minutes, but for 2 euros more we have booked a fast train, with numbered seat, that will take us from Pisa to La SPEZIA in 43 minutes. We have already scratched him almost 45 minutes a day.
We arrive at the Pisa Central Station a few minutes before 8 and go directly to the machines to withdraw the tickets, since the reservation by GoEuro only gives you a code printed on a paper that you must then enter in the machines so that they give you the bills.
A good option if you stay in Florence and only have one day is to book a trip to Cinque Terre by bus or this excursion to Cinque Terre and Pisa by train, both with a guide in Spanish.
As we still have time, we take the opportunity to withdraw all the tickets that we will need these days and we are surprised that the only one that has a date and time assigned is the train from Pisa to La Spezia because it was the reserved seat, the rest can be used in 2 months.
That is going great for us at the time of book trains through GoEuro We did it with approximate schedules, which we knew would force us to adapt the planning at the time.
In this way we can modify the schedules at our convenience, without having to adapt to the train schedules.
The train leaves on time at 8.26 in the morning on track 5 and under a beautiful day we start in the train from Pisa to La Spezia.
By the way, as an observation we tell you that you do not forget the train tickets on one of the machines of the station, because if you do not do it and you get caught by a reviewer, fine the song (you will see later that it happened to us ).

La Spezia train station

We arrive at La Spezia at the scheduled time and after an error that almost leads us to ride another train, looking at the arrivals panel instead of departures can lead to confusion of this type, we see that the next train coincides exactly with the reservation time we had made with GoEuro, so we go to track 3 where at 9.48 in the morning our train from La Spezia to Monterosso.
And the train arrives and with the accumulation of people who try to make a pointless place and screams, the screams of the typical group guide with an umbrella that tries under all the tricks, that the group of 50 people did not separate we mounted in the train from La Spezia to Monterosso.

Let's see lady with the orange umbrella? You believe that in the middle of June, in a Cinque Terre train You will be able to control 50 people over 60. I wouldn't bet a penny for that.
Well, after getting a place in the train from La Spezia to Monterosso, you can imagine the panorama. Group right next to us shouting and giving backpack blows to everything that moves. The trip of your life in a few words.
Luckily it's only 10 minutes away which takes the train from La Spezia to Monterosso. We believe that we had never made such a short train journey that would have seemed so long.
On the way in train from La Spezia to Monterosso, the sky begins to cloud and some wind runs, hopefully it will be fixed soon and allow us to enjoy the first day of the trip to Cinque Terre.

- Book the best excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence here

And so we arrive at what will be our base the next 2 days of trip to Cinque Terrewhere do we have our hotel in Monterosso.

Monterosso

If you only have one day it may be a good option to learn about the history and curiosities of Cinque Terre, book this tour by train with a guide in Spanish from the Spezie.
The first thing we do is stop at the Tourist Office of Cinque Terre, right next to the train station, to get information about the trekking trails of Cinque Terre.
And we are surprised when they inform us that all the Cinque Terre trails are closed because of the landslides of 2013, except the one that goes from Monterosso to Vernazza.
This makes us have to rethink the complete planning of the days we are here so we decided not to buy the Cinque Terre letter It costs 13.50 euros per person without train service and 23 euros with train service included.

More practical information to prepare your trip to Cinque Terre
- 10 essential places to see in Cinque Terre
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Cinque Terre
- How to get to Cinque Terre from Florence

Just having an open path, we will have to take more trains to get around, so we prefer to arrive at the hotel and quietly decide what we will do.
And rethinking what we will do these days we are going to the hotel in Monterosso, the Souvenir Hotel, which is 500 meters from the station.
In the end we arrived at the hotel after a few laps and asking several times, since it is quite hidden and until you get your bearings it is difficult to locate yourself in the town.
We find a corner full of charm, with a patio with a tasteful design, which we already know will be our resting point at the end of the day.
After leaving our bags at reception, since the room is not ready yet, we decided to go directly to the trail that leads from Monterosso to Vernazza, which is located on the left hand side of the town and start the tour of Cinque Terre.
Just start the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza I realize that it will be difficult for me to take it forward (Vanessa).

Trail from Monterosso to Vernazza

There is enough height and only a few fences separate you from the precipice, so the vertigo and sandals that are not exactly trekking, are not very helpful.
I decide right on the Cinque Terre letter control box office, that the best thing is that I go in train from Monterosso to Vernazza and Roger do the route from Monterosso to Vernazza, since he is capable of doing so.
We meet at the Vernazza train station at 2 noon. It is now 12 in the morning, so we both have enough time to reach the meeting point.
I take advantage before returning to the station to take a walk around Monterosso, do some shopping and enjoy taking photos and enjoy why not say it, those moments of solo travel that are often necessary.

Monterosso Architecture

At 12.42 in the morning there is a train from Monterosso to Vernazza so 10 minutes before I am at the station ready to take the train that will take me, this time alone, to the next town of Cinque Terre.

Monterosso train station

In 4 minutes the train leaves me in Vernazza and as soon as I leave the station I decide that this is my place in Cinque Terre.

Vernazza streets

It has that decadent air, with the painting of the houses falling apart, which makes me fall in love the moment I set foot on its streets.
Vernazza is a set of colors that invite you to stop shooting the camera.
There are clothes hanging on the windows that adorn some buildings that seem to want to tell stories to each person who stands in front, looking up to have the best perspective of the clotheslines.

Details of life in Vernazza

I still have more than an hour until the time I have stayed with Roger, so I decide to get lost in the streets of Vernazza with the sole purpose of listening, smelling and feeling Cinque Terre.

The port of Vernazza

While I'm enjoying some streets and a cozy atmosphere in the streets of Vernazza, Roger is sweating the fat drop, never better, in the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza.
From what he tells me, you need to be physically fit to do it and there are points where vertigo can play tricks on you.

Stairs on the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza

From Monterosso to Vernazza

Another thing he tells me is that you have the best views of Vernazza right at the end of the trail, a few meters before passing the control box office, so we consider that as the day goes, we will try to go up there, to see if they let me go to do that section.

Vernazza from the path that leads to the village from Monterosso

Half an hour earlier than agreed I meet Roger in the streets of Vernazza and after spending a while commenting on the trekking for which has paid 7.50 euros for a day of the Cinque Terre carte and for the explanations and the photos, as I said before, luck that I have not gone if I am not sure that I had a bad time with the vertigo that I have.
Being the time it is we will eat at the Blue Marlin Bar, a place located very close to the station where we ordered a pizza, a focaccia and a brushetta di pesto, more beer and coke and two expresses for 23.40 euros.

Eating at the Blue Marlin Bar in Vernazza

The atmosphere inside the Blue Marin Bar is excellent, with perfect background music for an Italian desktop.
We had told you that we love Italy? And that we lose pizza and pasta? And now on this trip to Cinque Terre, this could not be otherwise.
After 3 in the afternoon we will go through the streets of Vernazza, returning this time together, to the port area where we take pictures and more photos. This is one of the most photogenic areas of the town and we cannot stop taking snapshots from all angles.

In the port of Vernazza

We sat on a ledge and took the opportunity to sunbathe with hundreds of people who crowded on the asphalt with their towels.
After this brief stop we go to Castle A Doria de Vernazza, where we pay 1.50 euros per person to enter.

Going up to Doria Castle in Vernazza

Doria Castle in Vernazza

The visit is quick and we can not deny that there are no good views of Vernazza, but we do not believe that it is an essential place if you do not have much time in the town.

Views of Vernazza from Doria Castle

We go back down to sea level, while we get lost in some spectacular streets and corners, with an atmosphere that makes us fall in love and we reach a beach that is a delight.

Access to one of the beaches of Vernazza

Perhaps this is the best way to know, or at least for us, the villages of Cinque Terre, losing yourself in the streets and enjoying the tranquility that exists at the moment that you move away from the most tourist points.

Details in the streets of Vernazza

Once in the port area and with a heat that is tightening more and more, we stop to eat a couple of ice cream and a water for 5.50 euros.
The truth is that the prices are surprising us since we thought that this area of Italy would be much more expensive and we are checking that they have quite adjusted prices.

Cooling with ice cream in Vernazza

After this kit Kat Roger reminds me again that a few meters after the control box office on the trail from Vernazza to Manarola there are good views of the town, not to mention the best ones, so we decided to go up telling the girl at the box office if she lets me go a few meters to take some pictures even if I don't have a ticket.
It does not hurt us, on the contrary, it tells us to take the time we need, so we do not doubt it and that is where we go.
And at 4.30 in the afternoon, with all the full sun, there we go upstairs.

Ready to start climbing up the path ...

Luckily, after the effort, the views more than reward him. You just have to see the photos and judge yourself.

Views of Vernazza from the trail of Monterosso

After 5 in the afternoon we go back down and we go straight to the station to catch the train from Vernazza to Monterosso and go to the hotel to take a shower to "be people" again 😉
And this is how we get 7 in the afternoon when we go out again, this time to walk aimlessly through the streets of Monterosso, a town much larger than the rest of those that make up Cinque Terre and with some more infrastructure, both in accommodation and in restaurants.

Streets of Monterosso

We love the atmosphere that is breathed in these Italian villages, in which at this time of the afternoon the aperitivi is typical and get lost in the talks around a drink and some snacks.
We take the opportunity to visit the Parish of San Giovanni, which reminds us a lot of many of those we have seen in Italy, as in the trip to Tuscany.

Parish of San Giovanni in Monterosso

The light begins to fall and Monterosso takes on an even more special atmosphere if possible.
And when we began to notice the smell in the hundreds of restaurants in Monterosso, we can't help it and after a few laps, we stayed at the Ely Restaurant, where we ordered a couple of risotto di mare with water for 35 euros. We could say that it is one of the best risotto we have ever eaten. Spectacular.

Having dinner one of the best risotto we have ever tasted

This is enjoy and good life, without a doubt. Or at least for us.
We have just had dinner and decided to go for a walk around the town, to lower the food, in the light of the lanterns and after one day of the most complete, we return to the Souvenir Hotel where we have coffee on the terrace before leaving to dream.