June 4, 2011 - Cinque Terre to Florence

Took 7:10 train to Riomaggiore (city #1) from Monterosso (city #5) and hiked to city #2 - very easy but very pretty, right on the coast.  We kept running into swarms of bugs.  Easy Trail to #3 was closed, so we took a bus up mountain to avoid hundreds of stairs, then took 1.5 hour hike to #3 - much more difficult but fun and beautiful.  Both glad we did it, but very tired after.  Took train back to hotel (after missing first train because we were on wrong platform and then waited 30 minutes to find next train delayed additional 15 minutes) and got showered.  Mark checked out while Laura finished getting ready.  Went to lunch at outdoor cafe - took forever and very tired, with no room, so took early train to Florence - 3:00 train instead of 7:00 - got us in at 6:10 instead of 9:30.  Hotel nice, good location, old palace (supposedly).  Went to Rick steve's recommended cafe - pasta and meat and water and wine and veggie for 12 euro each!  Very good and filling.  Went to nearby laundromat to do our laundry!  Headed home for early night after long day.