Maybe that is because it was a fun day. We could not figure out what to do, and a group of four had headed out at 6:30 to go to Cinque Terre on the train, and then hike on the steep 2 hour climb between Montorosso al Mare and Vernazza. (the train ended up being cancelled and they came back to the Villa for an hour and had breakfast before heading back down to the train station.....ugh!).
We did a little research on the computer and Fiske found a blog entitled "A Girl in Florence" and an article on 'What to do as an alternative to Cinque Terre.' The site recommended an area called Framura, which is about 15 miles north of Cinque Terre - and therefore closer to us. The Framura includes a series of 5 separate little hamlets which step down the slope to the sea. They also recommended a restaurant, L'Agave, in Anzo, the last hamlet.
So, off we went! It turned out to be the most amazing experience of the trip. This area is very remote and the hamlets are small, tortuously constructed villages hanging on a steep hillside. The driving was hair-raising at times, but we managed to make it down to the bottom, where there was an extraordinary little protected cove for the local fishing boats.
On the way down, we were struck by the abundance of wildflowers, and Fiske managed to collect a lot of pictures (so beware futher on in the blog!).
After wandering around the small cove for a bit, we were struggling to see where the restaurant was. Then I spied something above us on the cliff. Sure enough, L'Agave! Fortunately there was a very cool elevator that went up to the train platform and the restaurant. We were the first ones there at 12:30 and were given a prime table on the terrace. The article had said that reservations were a must, but we lucked out. It is also hard to imagine how anyone finds this place!
The meal was one of the best of the trip. The entire experience was magical......great food and wonderful wine and an amazing view. Just after we sat down, the sun disappeared and some dark clouds arrived which a couple of showers and some rumbles of thunder. It was very atmospheric, and the canopy over our table kept us dry.
The storm passed, but we managed to hang out for a while, with lunch taking almost two hours. This is the right pace to enjoy life!
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| the toll machine on the autostrada |
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| approaching the start of the steep drive |
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| almost there! |
OUR LUNCH AT L'AGAVE
BACK AT THE RANCH!
We made it back to Bogliasco (to receive our standard welcome as we parked our car) and in time for our afternoon riposo......priorities in place!
Tonight was a night for hellos and good-byes......so a fair amount of celebration. Joan's daughter, Sarah, arrived in time for dinner. She had been in Arrezzo and Milano for two weeks on an Executive Education Leadership program from UC Berkeley. At the same time, Robin, Margie and Ayana are leaving first thing in the morning. As best we can remember we stayed up late and laughed the night away!
AND NOW FOR THE WILDFLOWERS !
