16 May-Rome to Cinque Terra

It is sad to leave Rome as there is much more to see  but we also knew it would simply be an overview and Rome is definitely a city we would like to return to one day.  Departure at 8:15 and our coach picked us up right in front of the hotel, that was really nice.  It is a long travel day but the beautiful Tuscan Countryside helps us pass the time.  We had a nice stop at a hill town, Massa Marittima.  We had about one hour there and we first had a cappuccino so we could use the restroom!  While we wandered about the small town savoring aroma of bread baking and food cooking Rolinka prepared a picnic lunch for us and then we drove on to Monterosso.  One very interesting sight along the way were the rock quarries where the marble that Michelangelo used came from more than 500 years ago.  They still get marble from these same quarries.  What looks like snow on these mountains is the marble.  We also saw the leaning tower of Pisa in the distance and took a blurry photo of it.  Finally we arrive in the Cinque Terra area and board the train for the very brief, 10 minute ride to Monterosso and our hotel Punta Mesco.  This time we have a nice little patio and hopefully the weather will be pleasant and we can enjoy it.  Again we simply drop our bags in our rooms and head out for an optional orientation walk just in the Monterosso area, old and new town.  We can rent a beach umbrella and two lounges for E$10. per day but laying in the sun is not fun for us.  We will probably buy a boat pass for the day and ride from Monterosso (the first town) to Riomaggiore (the last town) and walk part of the trail back catching the boat where we can back to Monterosso.  The whole place is lovely and quaint and there are a lot of options.  We ate in one of Rolinka's favorite places called L'Aliamarea in old town  and it was very good.  John had "wild boar" which really just looked like pork chops and I had ravioli.  We had the typical white table wine which is popular in this area and it was very good.  By the time the meal was over we were hot and it was very stuffy in the restaurant so we were the first to leave.  Along the way back from there we stopped for a taste of Limoncello and bought some to bring home, why I am not really sure!  I must say we feel very excited about the fact that we don't need to set our alarm in the morning!