Honeymoon: Day Eight, ASTI

JK, Sept. 16 2010: As I write, we are leaving Milano Centrale for Venezia.

The lane outside our B&B in Monterosso, Cinque Terre

Yesterday morning we woke around 7:00am and began the day with a trip to the Eastern beach in Monterosso. They water was warm enough that, despite the sun having not yet crested the East slope, I swam readily and for 20 minutes or so. The water is beautifully clear and there are many small fish, though not much else.

After the swim, we enjoyed a typical Italian breakfast of pastry and coffee. Checked e-mail for our plans to meet Flavia, and window shopped to and from the post office.

We checked out at 10:00 am and went to the train station's cafe where we read until our departure to Asti. I have finished The Golden Spruce and am on to The Lost City of Z. Both are great reads, though perhaps not the most suitable for a European trip.

(Both have much to do with imperialism/colonialism, and the negative impacts of the West on Native populations in the Americas.)

A typical Italian breakfast of pastry and coffee before boarding the train in Cinque Terre

Honeymoon: Day Seven, CINQUE TERRE - ASTI

Jessica, Sept. 15 2010 7:30 am: Skinny dip in the ocean. Church bells ringing from high above. They sound heavy and ancient. Yesterday we toured through the little shops of Vernazza before hopping on the train back here to Monterosso. More bells now, from the villages too, lighter in tone and not quite in harmony but beautiful and pure anyway. Sound of waves only, when the bells stop.

We ate along the beach last night, insalata and lasagne al pesto, beer and sweet wine and biscotti.

Honeymoon: Day Six, CINQUE TERRE

Jessica, Sept. 14 2010: Changed hotels this morning - the Sirene was full tonight - and settled nicely into Da Vice, a small, tidy roof-top room in one of the narrow, winding cobblestone streets of Monterosso.

Part of the hiking trail between Monterosso and Vernazza

Had a minor heart attack when we thought our Euro-Rail passes had been lost (!!) but they had simple fallen behind the desk in our old room. Reserved our trip to Asti for tomorrow, where we'll see Flavia, and to Venice for the following day, where we'll explore the famous city.