Cinque Terre - Milan - Lake Como

Tuesday (31st) we took the train (well 4 actually) to Vernazza in Cinque Terre, which is a group of 5 towns (the translation is literally 5 towns) on the North west coast of Italy and is a popular destination for Italians and foreigners alike. There is a walking track between the towns, and as they are built on hills overlooking the sea, some of it can be a little tough going. For the first day we were happy to wander around Vernazza before a few pre-dinner drinks in the main square and some dinner. Wednesday (1st) we walked between the 5 towns, first from Vernazza to Montorosso (the most northern town), then we caught the train to Riomaggiore (the southern most town) and from there we walked back to Vernazza via Monterola and Corniglia, which all up took around 5 - 6 hours. We definitely deserved a few beers at the end once we made it back to Vernazza!

The view from our accommodation, day and night

Vernazza

Vernazza from the south side

Aperitifs and dinner

The walk between the 5 towns (PM: the middle one was at the end of the longest and hardest walk, hence the exhausted look)

Thursday (2nd) we reluctantly left Vernazza for a brief one night transit in Milan before heading to Lake Como. We were a bit short for time so took a walk to the main piazza and saw the Duomo, grabbed some dinner, and on our walk home were pretty sure we saw the victim of a stabbing. He was lying on the side of the road in a pool of blood and looking a bit worse for wear. There was a bit of a crowd and an ambulance had just arrived, we decided at this point that the comfort and safety of our hotel was quite inviting!

Friday (3rd) brought us to lake Como, a bit of a playground for the rich and famous - George Clooney probably being the most publicised. We got to our hotel in Cadenabbia around lunch time, and after a small hotel stuff up settled in to relax by the lake, which is pretty much what occupied our time for the next couple of days! We also took a ferry ride across to Belagio to have a look around.

Our favourite little bar, Victoria's owned by an English lass

Looking out across the lake to Belagio, day and night

At a fantastic wine bar in Belagio, where we spent the better part of an evening