Travel-Monterosso Cat TB

I maintain records on my trackables. For a US-based trackable, this one is unusual for its longevity and movement. In the six-year period, 2010-16, the owner released a total of 2563 trackables in the United States (96%) and Europe (4%). This trackable is one of the 5% of the total that circulated for at least 5 years and had been moved at least 25 times. That is a target rate of at least five drops per year for five years, or a drop every 73 days. The average drop rate of my trackables in the US is 124 days, in Europe it is 71 days. As of 13-Apr-23 this trackable had survived for 7.8 years and had been moved by 60 cachers, for an average drop every 47 days. Please keep it moving, then drop it in a safe place!

No permission is needed to leave the U.S. While in the US, please drop it in a Premium Member only OR a rural cache near a busy trail or road. Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event where there is no security. Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and dry, protects the number and prevents tangling with other items. Otherwise, take the trackable anywhere you wish.

The Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a rugged portion of the coast of northwestern Italy.   The region is wholly within the province of Liguria, on the Ligurian Sea.  The five lands are actually five villages, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.  Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea.  Olives and grapes are grown on the terraces and modest fishing support the local economies. 

Footpaths (some very steep), trains (many tunnels) and boats connect the villages.  Cars cannot drive to the communities.  This travel bug is from Monterosso.  The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and the very few cars that are brought to town by boat. The area is famous for its many lemon trees that can be seen throughout Monterosso. It is also renowned for its white wines, grapes, and olives.

The cat in the photo had a pretty good life for the period we were there.  Her territory was between our B&B and the train station.  During the day she slept in a south-facing basket at a pottery shop.  Twice a day she would make her way across and down the street a little way and wait at the kitchen window of a seafood restaurant.  After a while the cook would slide the window open and lay some scraps on the sill.  I do not know where she went at night.