Continuing Around Palmaria Island

We continue hiking around Palmaria Island, walking away from Forte di Cavour and the resident goats.  The path is flat for a while as we cross the top of the island.

Continuing across the island

Leaving the fort and the goats behind

Soon we're able to see La Spezia in the distance and we then start to descend to catch the shuttle ferry back to Porto Venere.

La Spezia in the distance

Descending

At the bottom of the hill, we walk out on the pier and wait for the shuttle ferry.

Island fire truck

Porto Venere across the water

Local sea life

Ferry approaching

We reward ourselves when we reach Porto Venere with lunch at Al Gabbiano overlooking the harbor:  octopus and potato salad, pizza Porto Venere (anchovies), and pizza diavola (spicy sausage).

Octopus salad

Pizzas

After lunch, we catch the larger ferry up the coast back to Monterosso al Mare, stopping at the other Cinque Terre towns before reaching Monterosso, the northernmost town of the five.

Leaving Porto Venere

Cruising up the coast

Porto Venere and Isola Palmaria in the distance

Passing other towns

Arriving back in Monterosso

It's been a great day with a lot of variety:  Porto Venere, Isola Palmaria, two ferries, lunch.