I jumped on the train to Pisa. Threw my luggage in storage when I got there, did a speed-walk to the Leaning Tower to take some photos, just so I can say I saw it, and then did a speed-walk back to the station to jump on the next train to La Spezia.
From La Spezia, it's just a 10-minute train ride to Riomaggiore, the first of the five towns in the Cinque Terre. I finally made-up for all the missed connections I've had along the way by throwing myself on what I thought might be the last train to Riomaggiore, just as it was scheduled to leave. Of course, it ended up leaving 3 minutes late, so the running and leaping onto the train was totally unnecessary. My god, people must think I'm a spaz.
It was getting dark and overcast by this point, but as soon as I saw the Mediterranean I was all smiles. I love being by the water. The sound of the surf is the most calming sound in the world.
From the train station, I walked under a long tunnel and up a very steep hill to find... Jonathan! We had been keeping in touch via email, with the idea of booking the same hostel in Rome. It just so happens that we were both going to be at the Cinque Terre at the same time, as well.
It was exceptionally lucky that I ran into him at the hostel office in Riomaggiore when I did. If I hadn't, I would have been out of luck on getting a hostel room and would have had to rent a much more expensive room on my own. Not to mention that Jonathan had already been through the painful process of talking to the surly man who shares an office with Patrizia, the hostel proprietress.
Patrizia was long gone for the day, and Surly didn't want to let him use the phone or leave his luggage or exist anywhere within 20 feet of him. Jonathan and I were chatting just outside his closed door on the street about what to do now. Surly went so far as to tell us he didn't like the sound of our voices, can we please go somewhere else.
So we walked directly across the street and rented a room from his competitor, Edi.
We split the cost of a 50 euro room with two beds, a huge bathroom, and the most amazing view of the Mediterranean. Edi was awesome. He led us through some steep and winding alleys to get to the room, but he carried my luggage for me. What chivalry. :)
Jonathan and I found an amazing restaurant. We split a bottle of wine, ate pasta with pesto, a local specialty, and I had a pumpkin and leak soup, infused with nutmeg.
After that, we found a bar where the locals were hanging out watching the futball game, and had a great time drinking beers and listening to them get excited about the match.
See, that's the Leaning Tower.
Here's me in front of the Leaning Tower, looking unimpressed.
Look at the people pretending to push in over and hold it up.
And here's me with a Leaning Tower hat.
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