A room with a view in Finale Ligure

We were a sucker for hostels in castles: charming, historic, stunning views. However, their hilltop locations generally take some effort to access. Vuillermin Castle Hostel in Finale Ligure was no exception. Half way up the 321 steps, lugging my heavy pack, completely out of breath, I momentarily questioned this choice. But as usual, once we arrived it was totally worth it.

Five star views at a cut rate price. On the Italian Riviera no less. I loved sitting by the window gazing at the bright Mediterranean blue ocean and rugged cliffs.

Other than the 321 steps, our stay was very relaxing.

We hung out with a Canadian (Heidi) who had been studying and travelling around Europe for two years. We were captivated by her gelato stories. She stayed with a family in Rome who owned a gelato maker so there was an everlasting supply. Inspired, we visited some appliance stores in search of the magical contraption. The quest was unsuccessful, but we ate plenty of the local gelato while meandering the streets. In the evening we enjoyed the wonderfully fresh pesto, a speciality of nearby Genoa (see Genoa for more about our obsession with pesto).

I also pushed aside my fears of coffee addiction and tasted my first cappuccino: frothy milk, rich toasty aromas, smooth espresso. Mmmm. The whole experience was enhanced by the view as we splurged on a seaside cafe. The sparkling ocean was never too far away.

La dolce vita.

This is one entry from my 1992 European backpacking trip with my friend Sarah. If you want to start at the beginning, please check out The journey starts in Nice.