Porto Venere

Riomaggiore, Italy, Tuesday 29 September

The day began again with chimes. First the soft tones of the little church and then the serious bells of the big church continuously pealing seven o’clock. I am not sure why 7 am is so significant (perhaps as in the old days, for some it is time to start work). I however stayed put for in the little modern whitewashed eyrie as I was expecting visitors to check out the view (once they had donned their oxygen).

With their help I re-located to my new place for the rest of the stay, Luciano 2. With the benefit of fresh eyes and no suitcase dragging upwards for a bit, I can appreciate the town is actually very compact. I suspect everyone’s muscles get a similar work out here due to the steps. The 15th century locals who made the steps must have been very tall, very stupid or very cheap. The height of the step is much greater than a a standard step - my knee almost hits my chin with each step. Just one flight of giant town steps to the new place and then two flights of giant marble steps (internal access) to get to my front door.

After a gathering of those that are now here for breakfast at Birthday Girl’s, we took a boat ride and headed up the Ligurian Sea to Porto Venere for lunch. None of us knew anything about it except it was recommended as a nice place for lunch.
Turned out to be one of the landings noted in Ptolemy’s geography of the area – 150AD that was. Brightly coloured narrow waterfront houses are 12th and 13th century and the conversation definitely 21st century.

Nice? For the grand price of E18 and lunch we got castles, battlements, poetry, vistas, shops, music, seafood and sun. It was a picture postcard perfect historical Italian Mediterrean resort.