Cinque Terre, Italy

Well, coming to the end of our Europe trip with Cinque Terre as our last spot before moving back to Milano.

Cinque Terre, located at west side of La Spezia, comprises of 5 villages namely:

 Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia,Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

More about Cinque Terre can be read here =D

Before the trip, was struggling where to set our base camp. Had almost settled our accommodation  at one of the biggest villages: Monterosso. Luckily, met Jess over for a dinner and was advised that I should set up our base at one of the towns so we can bring up a lighter bag up to the villages for trekking.
Phew, we set our base at La Spezia!! The reason for that relief is that we were told that due to the  heavy rains those few days, there was land slides and major part of the trek was cornered off.
That will mean if our base was set at the village, we will have problem going up  & accommodation would be problematic. So starting off with a few pictures of La Spezia (a small town) as our base camp =D

At La Spezia

Neighbourhood of the small town: La Spezia =D
There is a small womanly figure in the far background of this picture.
That's Peng looking at the location map trying to find out where we should head to our host's house.

PHEW!! (Another great relief!)

Guess what? The silly duo almost boarded the wrong train before reaching La Spezia!!

Back on our last day of Rome, both of us were so resolute never to take the wrong train again. Had doubled/ tripled confirmed before getting on our correct train platform. Guess that we were both in luck as there was a Caucasian claiming that we took his seat and were on the wrong train.
Prior to that, we were cheated as Peng fell down onto the steps of the railway train. A "kind-hearted" man offered to help her and  myself by carrying up our heavy luggages & stowed up to our overheads.  After which, we thanked him for his kindness only to be taken aback with him blurting out $20 Euro.. So naturally.. We were both in shock & Peng was retorting "How Much??" in Mandarin to me. I repeated $20 Euro ( back in Mandarin). I refused to look the man into his eyes as I was in a loss.. so I kept my focus on Peng. Girl then replied, I'm going to try $1 Euro. So indeed, the smart  brave one really handed him $1 & shoved him away. After much deliberation, the man finally left hence when this Caucasian man insisted we took his seat and were in wrong train.  We were hesitant as our paranoid left us wondering were they in cahoots and if we would  be bashed up if we alighted. So Peng told me to wait in the cabin while she checked that out. Of course, the Caucasian got annoyed while I apologised and told him to wait while my friend verified)

After a good 5 minutes or so, Peng ran back & claimed we were on wrong train and its REALLY to Milano.
Oh gosh, luckily a kind Italian lady whom was sitting at the other side of the train saw us in panic attack, pulled down our damn heavy luggages down from the overhead. Quickly said thanks and good bye and off we rushed to our correct platform.
The damn heavy luggage & a good 6 platforms away (& the best part being our train was going to depart in just 15 mins), we ran like mad girls.. with me screaming after Peng to wait up for me. ( Ya, if you ever watched a Japanese Variety show which broadcast the elder siblings bringing the younger ones out on mummy's errands. The younger sibling will always the ones lagging behind crying out to the older sibling to wait up for them or to demand buying sweet treat)=P
That's the exact feeling I was having that day.
Of course, we did ran up to our correct train in time ( phew) & panting away like 2 old tired dogs=P

Okay, enough of wordy post, lets view the pictures for our dinner on our first day in La Spezia =D

The meal that we had on our 1st night in LaSpezia: My simple creamy Pasta.

Peng's tomato based pasta. Again, Simple & nice.
Totally no frills with no complaints about the food =D

Hey, we love to shop in their marts:
Peng got her red wine at $1.99 Euro while my Czech Republic beer is a little dearer: around $2.50 Euro? 

Something that I bought.
 Love their coffee.
After which then I realised this coffee powder is also sold here in SG (at a higher price, of course)=P

Some snacks, another coffee powder which I bought as gifts =D

Morning breakfast at host's place.
Love how they brewed their coffee

Our breakfast spread from the host .. but to us, not to our liking.
Tasted so dry & distasteful=P

After breakfast, waiting our train to Monterosso

My smart alerk-ness got us to wrong location.
Supposed to go Vernazza but ended up at Vezanno.
The spelling is too similar =P

Finally reached.. Think this is Riomaggiore.
Rain comes and goes damn fast. 

The very iconic picturesque view of Cinque Terre =D

Lunch !!

Brought the chilli sauce from home.. & the impact of trying chilli after 10 odd days
amazingly left a spicy after-taste ( strange=P)

Cant really rem this dish.
The green looking pasta is actually not bad..
Looks like a healthier choice =D

The serving size is way damn big & filling =D

I love this picture =D

Me drinking freshly squeezed  Blood Orange Juice.. Yumms..
at a high $3 Euro a cup for my Vitamin C intake  

This is what we had for our last night in La Spezia.
Seafood is well known there =D
Some " crab/ prawn" Penne --> Al dente & nice combi of seafood that tasted very fresh & yummylicious

Peng's Mussel tossed spaghetti

Peng in her happy mood =D

Bread is served before any meal in Italy =D

Not a fan of mussel but the baked stuffed mussels enticed me any way.
No harm in trying since there are reviews saying that Seafood is a must try in La Spezia.
Oh our goodness, it really tasted damn good =D

A closer look of the baked stuffed Mussel - Yums =D

Yummy!!!!!!!

Of course, a home made tiramisu to end our hearty dinner in La Spezia
I am starting to miss our trip now =P

Ending this post with my travelling companion... looking very happy with the dessert =D
And I miss our trip!! =D