Cinque Terre, Italy, Saturday, July 3

Based on our previous day’s outing, Maddie was keen to go back and swim around the rocks below the trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola, then swim at both the new beach and the old beach.  So our entire agenda for today was swimming. 

After breakfast, we took the train to Riomaggiore and found the area along the trail where we could climb down to swim.  Ever the cautious worrier, I was apprehensive about this for McIntyre, but he made the climb down with no problem. 

Looking down at the rocks we want to swim from.  Notice the steep stairs!

Mom and Mac coming down

Today, the water seemed rougher than yesterday, so getting into and out of the water seemed a little more risky.  I had bought some “water wings” for him so he would have something to help keep him afloat in the ocean (they pack much lighter than a life jacket, which I would have preferred), so they certainly came in handy here.  

Mac ready to swim

Since the water was rougher and some waves were crashing against the rocks, we didn’t put McIntyre in the water in the area where Maddie first went in.  Jim went in with her just to make sure everything was okay.  Then, Jim and Maddie worked their way over to another area that was calmer and we let McIntyre swim there for just a few minutes. 

Maddie and Jim swimming off the rocks

Maddie on the rocks

Eating some really good cherries

The Harrisons on the rocks

It really made me uncomfortable, and because it was hard to get in and out, we didn’t stay long.  So back up the rocks we climbed and took the train back to Monterosso.  

View from the rocks up to the top

Coming back up

More stairs

Our next swimming locale was originally planned to be the beach in the new town, but since it was already around 3 p.m., we decided to just swim at the beach in the old town.  Here you could rent some pretty interesting paddle boats with a built-in slide, so we rented one to venture out into the water a bit more.  The kids had a grand time going down the slide and I even took a chilly plunge down it as well.

Mac and Maddie 

Paddle boat with slide

View from the paddle boat

Paddling the boat

View from the paddle boat

View of Monterosso Al Mare from the paddle boat

Mac sliding off the paddle boat

Tracy sliding off the paddle boat

Maddie sliding off the paddle boat

view of Monterosso Al Mare from the paddle boat

McIntyre, of course, could have swum until dark, but the rest of us were a little chilly (not because of the air temperature, which was very hot, but because of the water which was very cold!),and hungry so we called it a day.  Back to the room for showers and to search for dinner.  Because it was the weekend, the village was pretty crowded,l but we finally found an indoor table at one of the restaurants and had a nice dinner of pizza, salad and French fries (Maddie was having a craving!)

These french fries rock!

Tracy and Mac at dinner