Italy #6 Today is Friday. Yesterday Eleanor and I caught the ferry to Salerno (as Anne and Karen had done the day before).It was lovely going down the coast and looking at the villages plus the area we hiked through the day before. We had plenty of time in Salerno to find the train station plus buy our tickets. We were trying to figure out what track to go to when a very helpful (we think Roma) fellow came along. He also grabbed our bags and carried them up for us. Of course he wanted money but we were happy to pay for the help. The ride was uneventful but the Rome station was stressful. Luckily we had enough time to figure out what track. We are doing well with two sets of eyes. We got to La Spezia where we had to transfer to the local train. Ticket people were unhelpful but two young Americans were more savvy than us. When we got on our car two of our group were sitting there! They'd come from Milan. The rest apparently missed this train by two minutes so arrived in Manarola as we were finishing supper. The only annoying thing about the second train ride -- my seatmate spent 2 1/2 hours talking loudly on his phone. I was wishing it would run out of batteries. Today was a long day. We had breakfast in the hotel then an orientation which there was no time for last night. We didn't get started hiking until 10. Not good for such a hot day. The three sections we did were interesting but challenging in spots. The trail got very narrow and any misstep would send you over the edge. But we all managed. About half the group stopped in town #3 (Corniglea) for a long lunch while the rest of us grabbed something to eat from a little deli (yummy things -- focacia with olives and cheese, or a rice pie) plus I got some gelato and an orange. We headed off on our next section which took 1 1/2 hours. (Our first section took about 3 hours -- we had left from Manarola which is town #2.) At Vernanzza we had a coffee, snack, pee break then kept on going to the last town of Montarosso. That section took 2 hours. We refilled water bottles every chance we got -- bars, taps in the towns, etc. We had a lovely treat about 20 min out of Montarosso. A local had set up a lemonade stand on the trail and made fresh squeezed lemon juice! For a modest price of course but very welcome. We got to our destination at 7 pm and met the rest who had come on by train. Supper was great. Eleanor and I had a mixed fish grill consisting of several different white fish, prawns, crab leg, squid and swordfish.We caught the 9:30 train back to Manarola. Sleep might be a bit elusive tonite as it's Friday and lots happening. We are right on the street so hear everything. There is music playing as well (live). We have two women guides -- Elizabeta and Viviene. We need two as the group is so large and everyone goes at a different speed. Very hot today. My legs from the knees down are partly covered with the heat rash I get from hiking. After tomorrow it will even be worse. Eleanor and I enjoyed our hike today very much plus the views were spectacular.It was fascinating seeing how they garden on these narrow terraces. There are very narrow little stone steps down or up into them.