Robyn's Travels - Where Am I Now?: Santa Margherita Lingure

I was woken this morning at 6.30 by the racket coming from the kitchen and the breakfast room that is right next door to my room! I got up and had a shower and went to breakfast room to see the cook standing, waiting for someone to come in, I was the first person this morning he said, then he said 'did you have good dreaming?'. He hovered for a while and then his father came in and he joined in the hovering until two other women arrived and they had someone else to hover around thank goodness!
After my huge B & B breakast I went for a walk along the promenade and found the bathing beaches, out of all the area I walked there was only one area that was a 'free' beach, it was about 20 metres wide, the rest of the beaches are 'private' beaches that you have to pay to go on. For your money you get a beach chair, umbrella and the same water to swim in that the people who use the free beach swim in!

(the harbour)

(early morning swimmers)

(the only free beach in town)

(bathing boxes Italian style)

It started to get hot and sweaty again after an hour or so, so I came back to the main area of the town, had a 'caffe' freddo' (cold coffee), wandered around for a while then came back to my room for more hand washing (yes!!) and a bit of a rest.

(this morning's caffe' freddo)

I have been out and about this afternoon, I went to the Villa Durazzo and am really glad I did, it is a couple of huge mansions that are amongst acres of beautiful hilly grounds covered in tropical gardens that are obviously years and years old. I have to find out the history of the place though, I will have to ask the owner in the morning while he is hovering.

(The view from Villa Durazzo)

Then I went and had a drink sitting outside somewhere - very civilised, then had to come back here to go to the toilet - we all know what I am like with public toilets!

I went back out and had dinner in some little place, the food was delicious, the chick who served me not so much - I have noticed that in many places they don't have a table available for one person unless I just sit down, others just chuck the food at you, others fall all over you. The ones who fall all over me are the ones I will be going back to. The others I pay with my credit card!

(my cena, ravioli with walnut sauce and salad)

After dinner I went for a paddle at the 'free beach'. I have really noticed how much Italians smoke here, nearly all of them do, but the worst of it is that they dont give a shit about their beaches, the sand / stones were filled with cigarette butts, it was like playing dodge the butts and I lost.

(the beach tonight)

I walked back amongst the 'village' and bought a gelati, it was delicious again, so different to the gelati we have at home!

Tomorrow I am going to get the train to one of the villages in the Cinque Terre and maybe get a ferry to another village or two. I asked the receptionist here if I could do that, she said 'of course! You can do whatever you please! You are free!!' so I guess I can!

Some more photos from today -