Santa Margharita

We made it here to our next destination safe and sound. Of course, no straight through trains like promised.There was a train strike scheduled for noon but we made it to our next place before they went on strike. The transfers went smoothly.

As we were traveling here from the Cinque Terra we passed by many beach towns. You could tell that during the summer and fall they are really hopping. But most of them looked like ghost towns now.

We are in a Hotel or Pensione and of course there is no internet, no phone and no laundry. We are working out with the internet cafe owner a way to transfer pictures.

Since we were out of clothes (no laundry in the Cinque Terra either) we had to do what other people do and take them to the laundry. For 20 euros they will wash and fold our clothes for us. The only other alternative is--well there isn't one. We pick them up tomorrow. The hotel manager said"why would you want to wash them yourselves when it is so cheap to have someone else do it for you".

It has been a little overcast and drizzly today. We are hoping that tomorrow will be bright and sunny. The wind has been blowing and you would think it was winter the way everyone (including me) bundles up!

Santa Margharita is a beautiful, beach community that doesn't have the "poshiness" of nearby Portofino. Like the other areas in this region, many of the shops are closed for the season. We did find a nice lunch place and will probably go back again. We do get breakfast at our hotel but we are on our own for the rest. With no kitchen we will have to find restaurants that are a: open and b: that don't serve pizza or anchovies.

Speaking of anchovies, yesterday we ate the famous local dish of fried potatoes, tomatoes, and anchovies (remember these are the fresh ones and not the salted ones we have). We figured we needed to try it since the area in the Cinque >Terra specializes in it. Well, it was like a lasagne; layered potatoes, tomatoes and anchovies. As we are eating it, trying to crunch up the little bones of the anchovies and thinking, well we won't do this again, we noticed the locals sitting next to us. They were feasting on steak, french fries and salad. I guess we really should do as the locals do. Heck with the guidebooks! One more dinner experience happened last night at the only open restaurant in Manarola. We sat down to our table (the only people there) and we noticed ants all over the table. We started brushing them off, the waiter came by and looked at what we were doing, and then said "oh--just ants" like it was an everyday occurence to have ants all over your dining table. The food was good and the extra protein was appreciated!

We will add more later if we can, but we wanted you to know that Santa Margharita is beautiful and you will just have to imagine it until we can post pictures of it.

By the way we have cut our trip short by 10 days and will be returning to the States on Dec. 2nd. We will stay at Maren's and then come to Az on the 5th. Mexican food here we come!

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