39 hours in Italy...it's the American Way

We had planned to stay at least two overnights in Cinque Terre. I had read about hiking the 5 towns yet I did not for some reason expect that every other American and their brother, sister, mother and father had also read the same guide book. We left the house here in Villeneuve at 8:00 am and arrived after 7 hours and 4 connections to Vernazza which sits incredibly in the landscape with dramatic cliffs as you can see from the photos. The deal is that if you do not have reservations...you simply knock on restaurant doors until someone gives you a room. Kinda crazy because the later in the day that you arrive...the higher the prices go...(We did well for a room at about $120 but apparently at 9am sometimes the same room is $75 huh?) Very pleased with a place to stay we started hiking. Amy and I kept joking about this being the beginning of our training for at least an Olympic distance triathalon. The funny thing is we were wearing our Ironman hats and someone passed us running on the trail and it turns out he actually just finished the real race. (He said he did it twice? Huh.) Jumping in the water in each town was great. Getting away from the Americans who stop on the train was great (funny...we are American but where we are in France...there aren't any so suddenly we found our own people very annoying!) Exhausted by sunset..we found a highly recommended place for dinner and made reservations. They only have one seating at 8pm so at 9:30 when we were done eating..the owner made a face at us and came out with some grappe. (strong Italian liquor) We understand now that you do not ask for the check until all 10 tables are done eating...and some of those Europeans can eat for hours! So..we stayed and laughed at ourselves and the owner asked us when we were coming back. Unfortunately, we missed the train to the town we were staying in...(because we had hiked to Corgnilia) Luckily, at 11:30 pm I rested on the train platform and the last train back to our town arrived. The next morning we woke up and saw the last two towns. My advice on Cinque Terre...book your place to stay a year in advance (Corniglia,) bring losts of cash, plan to be held hostage by a lovely restauranteur, and if at all possible plan to stay at least three days!