Italy 2023, Day 13: Moneglia and Bonassola

We woke up in Sestri Levante, packed up and headed down to the breakfast area. The food was not as nice as other places we stayed and the yogurt seemed off so we stuck to staples and then tramped back up to the train station...

...for our short hop to Moneglia.

It was an uphill climb to the Hotel Mondial.

Once again, we were too early to check into our room, so we left our bags, and headed up to a upper level terrace with a nice view. We found some lounge chairs and relaxed until we could check in and put our bags in the room. After a while, we walked back down to the train station to go explore nearby Bonassola. The train station was decorated with mosaics that were simple, a little beat up, but still attractive.

From the train station, we walked down the Via Risorgimento towards the Ligurian Sea. Here's what we found.

Bonassola seemed to have an large public beach area, unlike many of the other towns we visited, and the beach was made up of finer, more comfortable material. Walking along the promenade, we came to the Caletta Bonassola (cove).

In this picturesque cove, the moored boat, I suspect, is a symbol from the city seal.

The water looks so inviting! Next time I must remember to bring some swim goggles.

Getting back to the section where umbrellas and lounges are for hire - separated from the public beach by the Tortente S. Giorgio which delivers rain runoff to the sea. In this hot weather, she's-a dry.

From the beach, we walked inland to find a place for lunch. We found this lovely spot on Via Fratelli Rezzano - the Caffè delle Rose di Barbieri

I think I got pesto and Kathi got a salad with tuna, veggies, beans and cheese. After lunch we strolled back towards the train station, passing the Cassa di Risparmio della Spezia with the Castello di Bonassola in the background (also part of the town seal).

These little towns are all connected by a spiderweb of trails which would be fun to hike or bike.

We boarded the train in Bonassola and made our way back to Monegila and reluctantly climbed the hill back up to the Hotel Mondial.

Here's our view.

We rested for a bit, and then decided to go for a swim in the hotel's indoor pool. It was nice to take a dip to cool off, but there was a little bit of a strange vibe going on so we didn't stay too long. After a shower and a change of clothes we felt more refreshed!

Ready to explore Moneglia, we walked back down the stone steps, carefully, towards the seaside village.

Much like the other towns, there was an elevated promenade with tunnels that connected the town's shops and restaurants to the beach. There were plenty of umbrellas and lounge chairs for hire, fenced off from the free public beach area.

Here's a view of one of the promenade tunnels, public access points, where the local fishing boats are stored.

One of the things that initially attracted me to Moneglia was the palm tree-lined main street. 

That and an episode of a cooking show on the cooking book "Salt, Fat, Heat". Although it was never mentioned, the "Fat" episode was filmed in and around Moneglia and talked about olive oil and it's use in cooking.

Wandering around the town and peaking down alleys conjured up lovely possibilities...

Not a full farmer's market; just the daily display of fresh fruit and vegetables of sale - some local, some imported...

It's nice to see the locals pay homage to the nuns for their service to God.

Street merchants selling their wares to beach goers and tourists alike...

Among it all, in nooks and crannies, devotionals to Mary...

At the western end of Via Vittorio Emanuele was this lovely juxtaposition of old and newer architecture, that meshes nevertheless.

After wandering a bit to find the perfect dinner restaurant, not one place seemingly better than another, Kathi and I decided to eat at the restaurant "Tender" (which had a relationship with the Hotel Mondail so we got a 10% discount). That choice would be fateful!

Not agreeing on the color of wine, we each got a 1/2 liter. Kathi ordered the pansotti with walnut sauce, triangular ravioli with ricotta, spinach and herbs, while I got the spaghetti carbonara.

We struck up a conversation with a Dutch couple seated next to us outside. We chatted about our food selection (among many other things) and talked up the restaurant. Even before we finished our wine, the maitre'd brought us a complimentary limoncello! When we were ready to relinquish our outdoor table, we had a good buzz on. We grabbed some gelato nearby to fortify us for the walk back up the hill to our hotel. I snapped a few photos with my cell phone of the setting sun.

As we ascended towards the Hotel Mondial, the 

Fortezza di Monleone, built in 1173, was also backlit is a rosy hue.

Back at the hotel, we pre-packed for the next day's departure and, checking on the drying clothes on our little terrace, I took one last picture and said good night to the hills of Moneglia as a train came whizzing by, heading to westward destinations.