Can I pull off boss? Or indeed a hashtag in the non ironic sense? Never mind.
Recently, I uncharacteristically booked a holiday a whole year in advance. Normally I just go wherever the bargain Ryan Air flights take me, but I had some air miles and I fancied visiting the insta-porn which is Santorini so next September, off I go!
Talking of insta-porn, in case anyone wants to be equally organised and book a holiday for October next year, or even April/May I can recommend Cinque Terre, a collection of beautiful little coastal towns, about 45 minutes from Pisa.
Cinque Terre I like to think of as the poor man's Amalfi coast, and I mean that as a massive compliment as a poorer Amalfi coast is still a lot richer than me. And some restaurants in Cinque Terre sell prosecco for like 13 euros a bottle which I am pretty sure nowhere in Amalfi does...
Cinque Terre translated from Italian means "5 lands". "Lands" I think is a little bit of a stretch, more quaint colourful villages built up the coast side, which at night make the whole coast line looked like it is covered in lanterns and fairylights. It is uber romantic, but I really liked visiting with my gals, who I felt indulged my swoons at the views and relentless instagramming more than Will anyway. ;)
We spent a glorious 3 nights there at the beginning of October, which in my unbiased opinion was the perfect time to go (sundress weather by day, cardigans by night, sweaty moustache free). You should definitely put in on your Spring/Autumn pick me up list, and if you do here are 7 things you should defo do there:
Do make sure you walk between at least two of the coastal towns. It is super easy to purchase a pass for 16 euros a day which covers all your travel across the "5 lands" but there a few you can walk between. It is 100% worth taking the hike between them: for the beautiful views of the Italian coast, for the adorable bars cut into the cliffside where you can grab an aperol spritz or two, for the fact you can eat all the pizza and pasta at dinner without an ounce of guilt because you walked 90 minutes up and down hills and steps today.
Don't spend too much time in the first couple of towns Riomaggiore and Manarola. They are by no means horrible to look at it, but I basically loved the towns more and more as they went along, and they becomed quainter and more cobbled; culminating in an evening spent in Torre Aurora in the final "terre" Monterosso. Think an old castle cut in the cliffs and turned into a string lit wine bar and restaurant set on the terrace, covered in candles and playing old Italian music as you sit by the sea. A whole row of heart eyed emoticons doesn't even start to cut it.
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| Millenials ey? Can't take em anywhere without them getting whatsapp out. |
Do try the local cuisine - if you want some real stodge, you can find this kind of square pasta in the region (we ate some with pesto here and it was delish) or if you are not a fan of gluten (slash gluten is not a fan of you) there is a delicious local dish "Faranata" which is Italian carbs at their best, but made from chickpea flour. And for sweets (sort of) one of my faves was basil ice cream, which probs isn't going to become Ben and Jerry's next big flavour, but I thought was truly scrumptious (though I really love basil and just herb everything really, you probs need to love basil a lot to like it).
Do extend your trip with a visit to Pisa. Yes, it isn't the most beautiful of all Italian cities (though there are still some very insta-friendly corners), and the leaning tower of pisa is it's main attraction, but it is worth a stop not just being of the lols galore photos you can take with the tower, but for the amazing tasting and amazing value food. Seriously, the best pasta I think I have ever eaten in Italy for the smallest price. We loved Osteria dei Cavaleri so much (recommended by our lovely Air BnB host) we went twice!
Do pack your cossie, even if you are going in October or April. It is still lovely and warm, and the swimming at Portovenere is great - it may not have the best beaches, but the water is crystal clear and it is not every day you get to lie in the sea amongst the mountains.
Do buy some extravagant Italian underwear to take home with you. More expensive than a bottle of limoncello, but a far better souvenir, and you know Intimissimi is like 30% cheaper there...
Do bring a pack of cards and a relaxing playlist for those slow Italian evenings, to accompany the bottle of red that every Air BnB left us (and that a restaurant even gave us a take home - they really love giving out free red wine there, another reason to visit).
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| Our apartment in La Spezia had a real life pomegranate tree outside! |
And maybe get these amazing Queen necklaces, for general life really, but also your nine your old self knew it best. Nothing more fun than matching friendship jewellery, is any girls trip really complete without it?
PS. Love me a maxin' relaxin' lady trip - a genuinely wholesome weekend in Amsterdam
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