Italy: Chapter 1: Arrivato

We got to the airport on Thursday for our red eye flight on Swiss Airlines (who were awesome and gave us as many drinks and chocolate as we wanted!)

The Alps were breathtaking:

We landed in Milano on Friday morning and proceeded to figure out the Italian train system (NOT very straigtforward!) and take our 5 different local trains (the new fast trains were all sold out due to the Easter Holiday). 

Finally we arrived at Manarola - a little, quaint town in the Cinque Terre. This is the view from the train platform:

We rented the cutest little flat from Airbnb. Here's the walk up to our place:

Here's the view out our window:

The first night we ate the best ravioli in a butter-sage sauce. We sat outside in a little heated tent where we got front row seats to the Easter procession with chanting church leaders, locals, and life-sized coffin!

Our first morning was rainy but we explored the town and the local vineyards  that rose up around it:

We ate squid ink pasta with peppers and fresh seafood for lunch and watched the sun come out. Although most of the famous hiking trails were closed, we hiked to the next town, Riomiggore, on the local foot paths. Up through the vineyards:

And still farther up through the wild sage and heather bushes:

To the top:

And down the other side through more vineyards:

And lemon trees full of fruit:

Wild Calla Lilies:

Riomiggiore, a bigger, touristy town:

Here's the view from our dinner table where we had wonderful aperitifs and well deserved sandwiches:

We took the train back to Manarola and enjoyed some gelato, fresh strawberries, and the locally made limoncello: