The day unfolded as we sat in the early morning hours of the town square. The weekly convoy of travelling stores, trucks; each carrying something different strategically positioned themselves. Doors swung open to expose clothes, cheese, and fish, another with vegetables and another with dairy products. Local folks came streaming to each to buy the catch of the day or buffalo mozzarella or the latest plaid shorts. They lined up at each truck talking loudly with the vendors and other locals standing nearby. A man, who had just recently recovered from a stroke made his first appearance in the square since the stroke. As he was being walked, slowly and carefully with his cane at his side and his helper on his arm, to his usual bench in the square, people came running over to him holding on tightly with large hugs and rejoicing voices. He couldn’t talk, but he responded with the greatest smile and sounds of joy.
We piled ourselves onto the train to Monterosso with at least a thousand sweaty people who were jammed into the same passenger car going to the same beach. We tumbled off into a sea of beach umbrellas and African vendors selling beach towels to people already laying on beach towels. If you liked, you could also purchase a little outfit from a gypsy. The beach was packed. We managed to find a spot in the free section, as opposed to the 10 Euro per hour section, and planted ourselves in the salty sand. Britt swam and I watched the bag.
We left our sandy domain running to catch the next train to Vernazza. This train only had 500 people per square inch so I managed to find a seat for the three minute trip. Vernazza was fun. It too, was loaded with people; mostly at the restaurants and stores. We sat on the pier and watched three boys having a whale of a time on a paddle board. On and off, falling, diving, jumping and laughing their little heads off. It was most fun to watch. The atmosphere changed when a little ten-year-old voice to the right of the scene, yelled “Jelllleeeeeeeee Fishhhhhh!” Children all lined their toes up at the edge of the pier and peered into the water. Everyone who was in the water clamoured up the ladder as a little fellow ran to pickup a net. He swooshed the jelly fish out one by one and plopped them on the pier in a big slimy glob. Grandpa picked up the glittery little pieces one by one and bagged them.
We left the town centre at 4:15 to catch the 4:30 train from Vernazza to Corniglia. It was delayed. It was delayed some more. And then a little more. By 5:35 the 4:30 had finally arrived. At least a thousand people pushed their way onto the train. There were so many people the doors wouldn't close. Children were bumping their heads on the elbows of adults and a dog was licking a mans leg.
We finally made it to Corniglia and walked the road up to town because we didn't know how all the people getting off the train at Corniglia could possibly fit into the tiny bus that runs you up to town. The bus passed us during our walk with seats to spare. I guess everyone walked to town. We are now sitting on our second floor balcony, with cookies and wine while we are overlooking the sea and surfing - the net.
We piled ourselves onto the train to Monterosso with at least a thousand sweaty people who were jammed into the same passenger car going to the same beach. We tumbled off into a sea of beach umbrellas and African vendors selling beach towels to people already laying on beach towels. If you liked, you could also purchase a little outfit from a gypsy. The beach was packed. We managed to find a spot in the free section, as opposed to the 10 Euro per hour section, and planted ourselves in the salty sand. Britt swam and I watched the bag.
We left our sandy domain running to catch the next train to Vernazza. This train only had 500 people per square inch so I managed to find a seat for the three minute trip. Vernazza was fun. It too, was loaded with people; mostly at the restaurants and stores. We sat on the pier and watched three boys having a whale of a time on a paddle board. On and off, falling, diving, jumping and laughing their little heads off. It was most fun to watch. The atmosphere changed when a little ten-year-old voice to the right of the scene, yelled “Jelllleeeeeeeee Fishhhhhh!” Children all lined their toes up at the edge of the pier and peered into the water. Everyone who was in the water clamoured up the ladder as a little fellow ran to pickup a net. He swooshed the jelly fish out one by one and plopped them on the pier in a big slimy glob. Grandpa picked up the glittery little pieces one by one and bagged them.
We left the town centre at 4:15 to catch the 4:30 train from Vernazza to Corniglia. It was delayed. It was delayed some more. And then a little more. By 5:35 the 4:30 had finally arrived. At least a thousand people pushed their way onto the train. There were so many people the doors wouldn't close. Children were bumping their heads on the elbows of adults and a dog was licking a mans leg.
We finally made it to Corniglia and walked the road up to town because we didn't know how all the people getting off the train at Corniglia could possibly fit into the tiny bus that runs you up to town. The bus passed us during our walk with seats to spare. I guess everyone walked to town. We are now sitting on our second floor balcony, with cookies and wine while we are overlooking the sea and surfing - the net.
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