Manarola Favorites

Favorite thing: The Cinque Terre Card is your entrance card for the hiking path #2 from Monterosso al Mare to Riomaggiore (and/or vice versa). It also includes all trainrides between La Spezia and Levanto for the period of validity, which is either 1, 3 or 7 days.

In 2006 the rates were as follows:

- Eur 5.20 (1 day )
- Eur 12.40 (3 days)
- Eur 19.50 (7 days)

The tickets can be obtained at the entrances of the hiking paths or at the local tourist offices or train stations. You get some very useful information along with it!

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Favorite thing: Here are some links that might help you to plan your next vacation to Manarola:

aerial view of Manarola

http://www.cinqueterre.com

to be continued

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Favorite thing: I found Manarola to be the quietest and most peaceful of the villages - and while browsing the web for some information I came across this information as well! I guess that the other villages (maybe except for Corniglia, which I have not visited) are just more touristy -more easily accessible - but I sure enjoyed Manarola's laidback atmosphere a lot!

Favorite thing: This photo shows one of probably a dying breed of toilet facilities. I call them squatty potties for obvious reasons. I have noticed over the past 20 years that toilet and bath facilities have been modernized in a lot of places so don't know if you will encounter this kind or not. But be prepared for differences in the design and operation of them in Italy or anywhere else. In a way I am sorry to see them go as they add a quaint note to one's travels. I certainly hope to god that we don't get so homogenized that everything is standardized everywhere. I can deal with a little inconvenience in the conveniences.

Favorite thing: The main attraction of Manarola is Manarola - with its colorful homes looking like they are stacked on top of each other and hanging precariously onto the rocky coast

Fondest memory: Here you feel you are in the midst of real Italian life. The village is lovely and quite friendly. One evening we stopped in a small restaurant for a gelato and it appeared that the entire population of Manarola was present. There was a very family oriented small town atmosphere and one older gentleman seemed to be the "godfather" (in the best sense of the word I hope) of the populace as everyone seemed to stop, greet him, exchange an embrace and a few words.

Favorite thing: The Cinque Terre Card provides a convenient way to travel between villages. Available at train stations, the card covers all train, trail, and bus fees for a one day (€5.20), three day (€12.40), or seven day (€19.60) period. The card is a great value if you plan to hike between three or more villages and use the trains. Buses run twice every hour between the villages. If traveling by train, be sure to validate your card in a yellow punch box before boarding.

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Favorite thing: The Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

The villages are gorgeous, the views breathtaking and the energetic hikes give you a great excuse to eat plenty of gelato!!

Make time in your next trip to Italy to visit this magical place.

Favorite thing: Schiacchetra, the local specialty wine, is a very sweet white wine pressed from near-raisins. The climate and soil dictates the type of grapes that could be grown here, and it is a testament to the locals ingenuity, that they have been able to turn out such a good wine. For those of you who know, the Vin Santo of Santorini is of the same ilk, but the schiacchetra is not a dessert wine like that one. Both are definitely worth the money you pay for them. Excellent wines.