It’s been seven years since we visited this gorgeous town. It’s a just under two hour train ride from Pisa to Rapallo. We are staying in a fabulous two bedroom Airbnb about 10 minutes from the railway station. Another great selection by Steve and because we are on the top floor (thank goodness there is a small lift) we have an awesome patio that looks over the city.

Our first night we have delicious pizza and cold beer at a little restaurant just around the corner. A perfect start for our four night stay on the doorstep of the Cinque Terre.

I am very excited to be heading to a pesto making class with Hannah and Nick at Nessun Dorma, in Manarola, the oldest of the five towns in the Cinque Terre. To get from Rapallo to Manarola you need to catch two trains and it took about an hour and a half. We found the purchasing of our tickets a bit tricky but eventually used the Trainline website and voila tickets! Because we took longer than expected, only Nick managed to make the first train. There was no way I was going to use my ancient ninja skills to jump into a moving vehicle as the doors closed despite Nick’s encouragement. I’ve tried this once before on this trip and boy those doors hurt 😭.

Lovely Hannah had a much greater chance of making it but decided to stay on the platform with me. As the train and Nick leave the station there is that sinking feeling that there is no way we’ll make our connecting train. But the train gods are smiling and so fortunately our connecting train is delayed… but this does mean that rather than mindlessly walking through this perfectly charming little town we are on a foot race along the winding, narrow and very crowded paths of Manarola toward the Marina.

And we made it, up a staircase to a lovely restaurant tucked into the hillside. And this is where we’ll spend the next 2 and a half hours, on a beautiful patio under large white umbrellas being thoroughly entertained while learning to make pesto and hearing about the story of this wonderful restaurant.

The restaurant was closed for many years and so the story goes the current owner who was born in Calabria, and was working in Florence trying to be a lawyer met a girl from Monterossa. He had to find a job so started working in a restaurant and that’s when he had this idea… this beautiful restaurant. And his mum works there how awesome is that … just like the Nonnas!

Lunch and a bottle of white wine is included in the €85.00 charge – it is an experience I will never forget. Oh yes and you get to take your pesto home – winning 🥂

It’s not a normal class, it’s a good opportunity to enjoy your life.