Monterosso is the largest of the towns of the Cinque Terre, but even so it's not very large. It does have a beach with coarse grey sand as well as medium sized rocks. it makes us realise how spoilt we are in Australia. You can hire 2 beach lounges and an umbrella here for 20 euros (around $30) a day. But no-one was paying today as it was raining and cool. Not beach weather, nor walking weather for that matter, though we did see some people with rucksacks with waterproof covers walking through the town. We were content to stick to the towns today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better weather for walking.

Riomaggiore is at the other end of the Cinque Terre, just a km or so from Manarola. The local train goes from Monterosso to Riomaggiore in about 15 minutes, mostly travelling through tunnels burrowed through the hills. Without the tunnels the train would be regularly cut off, no doubt, by rock falls just like the walking trails.

Riomaggiore is larger than Manarola with more people walking the streets and more shops and cafes. We stop for a very average coffee - a disappointment in this land of good coffee, though it was better than the instant coffee were had on the train from Venice. 

Monterosso Beach looking towards Manarola

Monterosso

Monterosso Beach

Riomaggiore