Summer is upon us and we all need to think carefully how to best spend our precious time off from work. I want to help and give you some last minute help to have the most out of your holiday in Liguria. You will have a fabulous holiday, enjoying excellent food and wine in the way only the Italians can offer it. When the cold winter months arrive in England you will fondly remember the caressing clear blue sea, the small romantic bays and rocky shores of Fiascherino.
Il Golfo dei Poetri offers numerous ways to explore this romantic area, which I am happy to say, is still undiscovered by mass tourism.
Wine Charms In Bulk
Let me introduce you to some small islands that Fiascherino faces over the water. These are the Island Palmaria, the Island del Nino and Island del Ninetto. One of the most pleasant ways of visiting these three small islands are by taking a boat trip. You can go by the large safe boats from Lerici to Portovenere or take a smaller boat to these islands. Or you can be brave and hire a small motor boat from any boat hiring business, one is right there in Fiascherino, called Il Senatore. Alternatively, you can 'push the boat out' so to speak and go in style by hiring a boat with staff from one of Lerici's boat hire companies. You need to pre-book and agree on the price. Once there, you can enjoy the many local dishes, wine and scenery, which are typical of this region.
At 'Locanda Lorena' on the Island of Palmaria, you will have "pesce fresco" and specialties, like the 'pasta con sugo ai frutti di mare' (pasta with all types of sea creatures). Ah, and the sauce you will have my dear... I am still trying to emulate this dish in my own kitchen with some success, but I can only cook this there, because of the need to use fresh ingredients. They say that the local fishermen reserve the best catch of the day for the chefs! No wonder, I cannot succeed to produce the same dish!
Of course, you have to wash it down with the local wines of Cinque Terre. Here you can taste the region's famous DOC wines, one of them is, called the noble Vermentino, but you will find many others of equal excellence.
Moving on to your day and night entertainment options, they are plentiful throughout the summer! All one needs to do is to pick up a detailed booklet, called 'in vacanza' and you will have all the information readily available. The Mondomare Festival is a regular event every year, where group of artists, comics, musicians, cooks, writers travel from the west to the east of Liguria to over a hundred events helping visitors getting to know the sea and its culture. Check out this year's diary for the Mondomare Festival event, which is usually scheduled through June and July, but there are many other events you a go to, so ask at the tourist office and get that booklet!
Shopping is not lagging behind in the region's offerings. From the 'Jewels of Campo - filigree necklaces to hand painted plates to the 'Soffitta in strada' one of Sarzana's returning events, where practically the whole city is covered with antiques, you will find your perfect souvenir, which is not garish. Shopping is not lagging behind in the region's offerings, and it is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon wondering around the stalls in the cool streets after a gourmet lunch, which you can have at one of the pavement bistros tucked away in a cool alley.
Lastly, you will no longer be cut off from the world in this region as we have Hotel Cristallo just a few stops away with WiFi facilities and am sure, if you use your charm and buy a cup of coffee, you will be able to collect your Blackberry messages and do some work on your lap top, if you really must! Why do we have a bit of difficulty receiving electronic messages, because we have the enormous mountain behind us! There are also other hotels offering this service. If you walk up to Tellaro, there are two hotels where you and pick up your messages for Eu1.50 per hour. No need to get into your car, just stroll a couple of 100 meters and it is all there!
As always, I am here to help you to have the best holiday experience ever, so if you have any specific question or are in need of more help, please do not hesitate to contact me. Special promotional prices on two weeks in August. I am aware, of all the environmental challenges, along with the British Airways annoying politics, which put many of you off travelling, but you can fly with Ryan Air and the "ash" situation seems to be getting resolved. Anyway, there are many ways to get there. Wishing you a very memorable stay and a good journey!
Warmest wishes
Eva-Margaret