Ventimiglia, Italian Riviera, Italy
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A very early start, breakfast at 06:30, checked out and we are at the station by 07:45. The train to
Ventimiglia is on time but we decide to take a later train to
Lucca .Using my best Italian I purchase 2 single tickets to Lucca on the 09:52 train. Success at the first attempt. Checking the ticket it didn't tell us how many changes we have to make. On to the "Information Office" where a very nice man provided us with the arrival and departures of the 4 trains on our five and a half hour journey. Shelagh asks him if there are any delays. With a big smile he replies that there is a strike on in France, but you are in Italy now. We have an hour and a quarter to wait, so it is out the station into the Italian sunshine “Buongiorno Italy”. Walking to sea front Shelagh notices a large bottle of Mount Gay rum in one of the shops. It’s the centre piece of a window full of Caribbean rums; I’m in Italian heaven. We then wander around the local market, it’s full of in season fresh produce; artichokes asparagus and aubergines (they are just the “A” but only in English). Walking along the sea front Shelagh looks back to see a magnificent view of the snow covered Alps. So it’s back to the station stopping at the market to buy pizza, torte vedure and mini doughnuts filed with crème and cioccolata.
