Loving Santa Margherita Lingure

I had a great day Friday, woken early by the breakfast shift (Villa Durazzo used to be a hotel for the rich and famous hundreds of years ago, it now belongs to the people of Santa Margherita Lingure - public park in other words), had a big breakfast - was going to try the cheese today after having eggs yesterday but was given a hard boiled egg without the option of cheese today, seems yesterday set the pattern!
The weekly mercarto (market) was in town so went for a wander, bought two tops, I suspect one is a nighty but I will be wearing it as a top! Now I have to decide what is going to be culled - living by my rule - buy two, cull two!
Then I caught the train to Cinque Terre, one on my holiday MUST DO list. I got off the train at Manarola, walked around, had the best bruccheta I have ever had in my life, and a glass of house wine - absolutely nothing wrong with house wine in Italy! Walked around a little more, busting for the toilet, someone was in the womens' and she was taking her time, so I snuck in to the mens', thank GOD it was clean!

 (at Manarola)(best bruccehta EVER)

(boats at Manarola, Cinque Terre)

Then I caught the ferry to Riomaggiore, was sweating like hell while waiting for the ferry but I survived. The ferry ride was short but it was lovely on the water. I got off the ferry and walked around for a while. Walking in these villages means climbing steps! I had an hour to wait for the next train back to Santa Maargherita so found a trattoria which isnt hard considering next to fishing, tourists eating is the villages' livelihood, I sat and had a 'big salad' consisting of lots of lettuce and goats' cheese, with oil and balsamic it was delicious!

(ferry to the next village)

(stairs stairs and more stairs)

(big salad)

I then got the train that I thought was going to Santa Margherita, but it stopped six stops short. Panic almost set in until I remembered I have all the time in the world and I will find my way back eventually. I went to where the next train that stopped at S.M. left from and asked the conductor if this was the right train to have him tell me I have the wrong ticket, it is a train you need a reservation for, and if I pay him 10 euro he will let me on. I had a feeling that he was going to pocket my 10 euro and considering a reservation cost 3 euro I told him no, and asked when the next train to S.M. would be leaving, he muttered to himself and walked off. This is the first time I have told someone to get fucked since I have been on holidays! It made me feel good, I don't think he cared! I found my train easily enough and while I waited watched a drama of a young girl who felt feint unfold - long story short - it involved two cigarette smoking police, a train station staff member, two ambos - one old enough to be her grandfather with his hand on her knee the whole time, and the girl chattering away on her mobile phone while a heap of donne vecchio (old women) stood around fussing after her. Eventually, she got up, still talking on her mobile, leaving them all in her wake!
My train eventually came, I eventually got to S.M., went for an appertif (glass of wine and a plate of free nibbles), went for a walk, ate a bree, bacon and pear pizza (try it, it is bloody delicious), couple more glasses of vino di casa, and walked home, ready for bed.

(bree bacon and pear pizza -- delicious!)

This morning I've had a lazy morning, I didn't go for breakfast until around 9, the kitchen hoverers were a bit toey! Then I went for a wander up a street I haven't been up which ended up being a few streets I haven't been up because one leads to the other. My feet have settled down now so they don't complain any more thank god! I stopped at a cafe I have decided will be my regular while here for a caffe' freddo and ended up with something totally different today, it was like a coffee icecream thingy - hard to describe!
It then started to get a bit hot so I come back to my room, ate some lunch- tomatoes that taste like real tomatoes - and had a siesta. There was an award ceremony in the village ampitheatre tonight, - the literal translation of the sign is that the town is being awarded a prize for 'silver goiter' but it turns out the award ceremony had something to do with a media award.

(Notice about the "Silver Goiter" award)

 It must have been important because there were three sets of police there - the local police, the state police and the carabinieri who, as far as i can work out, are like the military / commonwealth police. Every single cop I have seen so far has been standing around talking on their mobiles and smoking. I was being watched by the carabinieri as I took photos of them all tonight, I dont know if it was because I was being a risk to the country or because I am hot. I am pretty sure it is because I am hot.

(Locals)

(state)

(carabinieri)

Then I went for a walk along the prominade, it is a beautiful evening, there are grey clouds, i don't think it is going to rain but they have stopped the sun from scortching me so grazie to the grey clouds! I stopped at one bar / cafe for a drink then went to another and you will see from the photos I didn't need dinner tonight.

(Appertif 1)

(one appertif leads to another)

Tomorrow is Sunday, my last full day here, I love it here it is a lovely seaside village. The Italians are up themselves though, they must spend every single cent they have on clothes and then parade around in them checking everyone else out. I get many looks up and down, I felt self concious at first, now I stroll past and look them up and down too.
I think I have seen everything in Santa Margherita Lingure, I have almost become a 'local' at one of the cafes, but I head to Verona on Monday. I leave here on the train at 1.40pm and arrive in Verona at 6.30. A long day on the train but oh well, I sit and look out the window and check out the view. I will blog again from Verona, enjoy my photos from the past few days and grazie for keeping in touch, loving your emails - robynroamingitaly@yahoo.com.au.

(Santa Magherita Lingure on Saturday mornings)

(Washing hanging in the main street, the undies made me LOL)