What is Italian breakfast?
by ruki
When you stayed in Italian Hotel you will get usually some slice of bread and croissant, butter jam and coffee. Orange juice and cappuccino if you are lucky. This is typical breakfast. If you are used to eat more, best way is to book a room without breakfast and head down to the nearest cafe where there is a better choice.
squeezed...
by call_me_rhia
This is how I would describe Riomaggiore... squeezed.. squeezed in a triangle of land: two mountains on the top and sides, the sea at the front. It's a really tiny charming place... sadly, but understandable, overrun by tourists. The fact that it's traffic-free... I found it very people friendly. Another fond memory is the people we met: lovely people that always had a kind word and were ready to share a laugh with us.
Heading off to walk the trails
by sue_stone
If you are heading off on a hike from Riomaggiore towards Manarola and beyond, you will start you walk from the train station.
There is a convenient cafe/bar/shop just opposite the station where you can buy cool drinks, snacks, or top up your caffeine levels before you head off.
Be prepared!
Pesto sauce
by ruki
It is typical sauce for Cinque terre and Liguria.
Ingredients are:
basil (2 bunches)
Pine nuts, (a handful)
Garlic (1 clove)
Salt (1 teaspoon)
Parmesan cheese (50gr)
Extra virgin olive oil, (3 tablespoon)
Butter (a teaspoon)
Mix well basil with crush pine nuts, garlic and salt in a mortar. Then add the oil until you have the density you prefer. Lastly add Parmesan and mix well.
Before seasoning the pasta, put a little butter on the plate followed by the Pesto sauce and let it warm on the pot where you are boiling the pasta.
the moving flowers
by call_me_rhia
As soon as I arrived I noticed the sign: don't sit on the flowers. Fair enough, I thought - but something about those flowers looked strange. Then it dawned on me: these flower pots, they move... honestly, I was not drunk. Then it made sense: don't sit on the flowers - but not because you could ruin them... it's because they can cause a small accidents. When a town's vehicle has to drive down the road - for instance to collect the rubbish - those flowers slide to the side and make way to the vehicle.. only to return to their original place once the vehicle has moved on. Genial!