Flying into Turin or Torino, its Italian name was easy. A bus from there airport to our hotel right near the train station.

Our hotel the Star majestic was one of the best in terms of facilities.

Hunger got to us. An hour late arriving it was nearly 9pm very late for eating. But we found a good salad nicoise and muscles for Steve.

A walk in the morning for Steve taking photos of the grand buildings and then onto the train. A long journey to Lerici. I’ve stayed with niece Berti several times before and love the town of Lerici. They live back from the coast in the hills with beautiful views. We’re staying in their little Airbnb with lots of little steps up to the top bedroom which has wonderful views.

We had a lovely catch up over dinner and planned the next few days The next morning the wind came up but Fabio decided we’d still go out on his new boat. He was keen to show us.

Down to the not so little Marina with around 1000 boats of various sizes tied up.

We got onto the boat. It’s new and comfortable and headed out across the Golfe de Poeti.

Passing PortdeVenere, I love looking at the church right on the point. I visited it with Pip my Sydney niece when we visited 24 years ago.

We headed down the coast towards the five little Cinqueterre villages pulling in to a protected cove with a little waterfall and an old building which turned out to be the train line. While we were there several trains passed very close to the edge of the cliff.

We had lunch and a lovely refreshing swim before heading back as the wind came up.

Fabio has a new pizza oven and that night we sat under the pergola and made our own pizzas.

Fabio had made the pizza dough. It was a lovely relaxing chatty evening. We planned the next days activities.

Steve and I decided to go down to Lerici as Berti had to work. She’s a teacher but does holiday activities with the children as part of her contract.

We caught the local bus down and it takes you on a little tour of some of the other little villages nearby.

We arrived at Lerici and took a nice walk along the waterfront. Watching about 8 little boys getting ready for their sailing lesson as part of vacation care!

Steve went up to the castle which brings back a lot of memories for me as my friend Pat and I had a week in a little Airbnb up behind the castle. It was quite a few years ago but I remember like it was yesterday.

We checked out a few little shops nearby and found one cranky Ligurian man who pushed us out of his shop because we didn’t want to buy anything. It was almost siesta closing time. He must have been ‘hangry’.

Cleo caught the bus down and met for lunch. She’s 15 now and a lovely young woman. Very interesting, studies hard, likes school and is such a great mix of her Australian mother and Italian father.

Berti picked us up and we went home and had a relaxing afternoon. Their little village is extremely small so there’s really no where to walk to within the village except up-and-down the little winding steep laneways.

Fabio decided to cook and sitting on the terrace in their lovely garden eating asparagus risotto with chilled wine made it very special.

Berti had suggested an activity for tonight. Going to her choir. At 9.15! So late. That is almost bedtime but not in Italy.

It’s a group of village ladies – 5 and 1 man. But 2 could come tonight so I made up the numbers.

They were lovely. So welcoming. First off was a chat – about their children. Then Bertie who is the unofficial choir organiser started up the music. They have several Italian songs and 2 English ones. They claim it helps their English.

After being at my choir concerts in England it was lovely singing with these ladies in their tiny Italian choir. I hope word spreads and it grows.

Back up the marble steps for a good nights sleep. Bertie informed us the water is going off at 8.30 for work being done in the laneway.

And tomorrow we leave this lovely little piece of Italy. I love my time here with niece Roberta – her official name. it was lucky Fabio was home. He’s usually away on his ship. He’s a ship engineer with a cruise line and spends months away.