SATURDAY 22^ND DECEMBER 2012.

Train  to Vernazza and a walk back to Monterosso.

 This morning we awoke to a clear blue sky. In light of it being a sunny day our hosts decided we should execute the plan devised last night.

Map showing the proximity of of Vernazza to Monterosso. The red trail running between Monterosso and Vernazza is the track we walked back along today.

Vernazza is a village very similar to Monterosso.  Towers and terraced hillsides dominate the horizon.  The layout of the streets indicated the town just grew with very little attention to planning (it is this lack of planning makes the towns so interesting).  One significant difference between Vernazza and Monterosso is that Vernazza has a small secure harbour formed by a substantial rock breakwater.  For those with an interest in geology, walking the breakwater is like walking through a geological museum.  But before I get into rocks, following are a few images around the village.

Higher part of Vernazza town.

Almost every square metre of space in the town is taken up by houses or some form of fortification.

I love the dwellings benched into and sitting on top of the cliff, I could easily hang out  in one of them for a while.  Monterosso can be seen in the distance.

Colour and angles make up the town landscape

Note the rocks holding the roof down.  They were cemented in position to stop them falling down onto unsuspecting pedestrians.

Anticline in the cliff face opposite the end of the breakwater. The folds like these indicate extreme geological activity.

Following are some photographs showing the different types of rocks in the breakwater. I would like to be able to name them but I don’t have the knowledge.  Maybe one of the blog readers can help me out.

The rock images above were not little pebbles, but big chunks like this.

A traditional boat within the protection of the breakwater.

Most boats were under wraps for the winter. Bev was amazed that the cyclamens (red flowers in the black pot) were not put under cover for the winter.

Following are a few other oddities around the village.

A chimney with artistic attitude.

How many knocks and how many coats of paint on this door?

Very cute mailbox.

House clinging to a rockface over a creek.

What is there to say about this happy chap?!

Door protector.

The mystery as to the purpose of these door covers is solved.  This one is to protect the door from rotting whilst the owners are away for winter. However the ones in Venice with rubber seals were to keep water out during high water levels.

The walk back to Monterosso was not particularly difficult but it was precarious in places due to landslides during the heavy rains which caused extensive damage to some village houses.

There were warnings and one that took our fancy related to appropriate footwear.

View of Vernazza from on the track.

The start of the track.

Room with a view.

Along the track there were numerous creeks to cross.  In times of flood rains many obviously turned into raging torrents.  This house was built too close to the creek and during the 2011 floods the foundations were undermined by flood water and half the house was washed away.

Bridge over the torrent.

Not in our garden please.

Cat on the track. Food and shelter was left for cats that live in a clearing on the track.

Our Swiss friends Rahel, Michi, Peter and Sweet Emma  (sound asleep) on the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso.

Scree to the sea.

The countryside looks fairly barren but there is life between the rocks.  Following is a selection of botanical delicacies.

The track today was, for most parts, benched out of the cliff face. At times I guessed we were well over a hundred metres above the sea level.  A great walk.

Another Monterosso sunset. The fire on the beach is driftwood being disposed of.

Tonight I’m thinking that tomorrow I might stay indoors or close to Monterosso so I can do some writing and painting.