THERE'S not much to do in the Cinque Terre in northern Italy. I wouldn't go there if I were you.
Nothing to do but sit back on our 360-degree view balcony in the Elisabetta Rooms in Vernazza with some locally made wine and while away hours just watching the waves crash over the rocks and into the grotto entrance to the marina.
Nothing to do but climb steps ever higher to cute little bars and casual restaurants on top of cliff faces with completely different aspects to the Mediterranean Sea.
Nothing to do but catch the regular local trains or ferries to discover the unique charms of the four other villages - Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Nothing to do but stroll the breadth of the different harbours, marvel at the fusion of land and sea (and building materials), and take too many photos of the crazy houses and hotels seemingly built on top of each other, creeping up the hills towards the vineyards beyond.
Nothing to do but be welcomed into an almost deserted cliff face bar near sunset and chat about life and the world with a barman.
Nothing to do but climb yet more stone steps up to Vernazza's medieval tower and castle remains and try to imagine a time when these villagers weren't as happy and carefree as they seem today.
Nothing to do but be swept up in the excitement of the whole village in wishing a new bride and groom good luck and catch some of the basketloads of candy the newlyweds throw from their balcony into the square as the church bells ring.
Nothing to do but eat juicy tomatoes on margherita pizzas (with the colours of the Italian flag), pesto lasagne or toasted paninis with mozzarella, maybe accompamied by some limoncino ligure drinks, to have the energy to attempt a hike from one village to another.
Nothing to do but go souvenir and gift shopping or marvel at the interiors of yet another quaint chapel a devoted parish has erected in the middle of town or on a hilltop.
Nothing to do but look out our bedroom window to a vast nothingness all the way to the horizon and go to sleep with the soothing sound of the waves.
Yep, not much to do in Cinque Terre. I wouldn't bother to go there if I were you.
Lesson of the day: The UNESCO World Heritage area (Cinque Terre means "five lands") is 18km of unforgettable landscapes. Just don't walk up any great amount of steps to any bar in any Cinque Terre village to admire the view and have one too many, because what goes up eventually must come down and those steps can be killers.
Cats in Europe count: I finally found the cats of Europe and they all live in the Cinque Terre.
Nude men at window count: just rose by two to four.
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