We are on our way to Cinque Terra. Today's first challenge was to get to the train station, find the correct train, purchase tickets for it and find the platform. Include in that process too, getting off at the intended location.
A cab ride from the hotel to the train station was fairly straight forward once we communicated to which train station we wanted to go to.
We went to a ticket counter to purchase tickets so we could ask the questions we had regarding location, schedule, etc. The other option would be to use the fast ticket machines if you knew what you were doing.
The gentleman at the ticket counter was very helpful and in fact suggested we go to Monterosso rather than La Spezia as we had originally planned. Monterosso is the first of the villages of Cinque Terra. Though we were somewhat confused about which platform to catch the train, we did manage to board the correct train after just a short wait.
There wasn't a tremendous amount of scenery on the way. What we could see was beautiful. Small towns sitting in the valleys between rugged mountainous hillsides. About 80% of the trip was in tunnels through those mountainous hillsides. Every once in a while you'd pop out of a tunnel and once your eyes adjusted to the light, you would either be back in the next tunnel or see a pretty little town. The train would stop every so often. Sometimes at a station in one of those small towns or seemingly anywhere it needed to, to wait for another train to pass so they could throw a switch.
Monterosso is spectacular. As advertised, carved into a hillside and charming. There are actually 2 parts to it. A newer side and the old original side. We hiked around the old part for a bit and finally grabbed a bite to eat. 
In looking at the ferry schedule it didn't look as though we could see too many of the 5 towns before we would need to catch our return train. We opted to see just the next town up, Vernazza. After all, how much charm can a person take anyway?
Vernazza is supposed to be one of the most picturesque towns of Cinque Terra. Sitting in a small bay and continuing up the steep hillside, colorful buildings dot the landscape. Really very striking.
A little hike up and around and through the town to enjoy the surroundings and appreciate how difficult it must have been to create such a place.
Soon, on the ferry back and moments later on our train back to Genoa.
We later learned that the boats were unable to dock at two of the cities due to the rough water so we only missed seeing one other city today.
Back in Genoa. We had walked a short distance down an interesting looking this morning while we were waiting for the train. We thought we would explore more of it this evening. Before we knew it, we were back in "old town". A place we enjoyed last night. Another World Cup soccer game was on so all the bars were crammed inside and out, cheering on Italy (who unfortunately lost). We found a spot at a crooked table outside a bar and ordered up a refreshment.
Bars commonly serve you some chips, peanuts or olives with your drinks. Not sure if it's because of the soccer games and trying to attract more people than the bar next door or what, but the last couple of nights we have had our dinner eating the variety of snacks served with our beverages.
Tomorrow we hop back in to the car and head for Florence.
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