Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 15: Hiking Through the Hills
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
Best Moments
1. Having friends to share the journey with
2. Getting up early to go for a hike
3. Being kissed on the lips by an old Italian man walking by and wondering what just happened
4. Realizing that the hike was more than I anticipated, but so happy that I went
5. Completing the most challenging part of the hike in the beginning, and then going downhill afterwards
6. Listening to other travelers on the trail
7. Photographing the colorful villages
8. Enjoying pesto in the best place for it
9. Seeing a pug and getting to pet him even though the owner didn't speak English, I think there was an understanding
10. Taking the train and boat to see the villages
11. Gazing into the unreal, blue Mediterranean
12. Meeting on the beach with friends to have wine, focaccia, and an amazing pesto lasagna
13. Making the most of the evening by going to a concert in the old town
14. Watching people in their windows as they looked down on the concert
Daily Recap
*I have been looking forward to the Cinque Terre this entire trip. Perhaps you can tell that I love photography. This is a photographers dream because there is beauty in every shot.
*I was so happy that some of my friends wanted to go hiking. It was a workout, but so worth it. One of my friends is a little closer to the ground than most of us, so climbing some of those steps was more challenging for her than it was for most of us.
*I enjoyed seeing the towns from all perspectives: foot, train, and boat.
*This happy hour has probably been the best setting of all. We gathered on the beach with wine, focaccia, and lasagna for sharing time about our day.
*The night held a special little surprise. Jennifer found out that there was a concert in the old town. We sat there at night listening to beautiful voices in the warm summer night. I couldn't help but think what it would be like if this was my daily life.
Personal Connections
*Italians are such fun people. A few of us were waiting outside this morning as the rest of the group joined us for the hike. While sitting and talking, an older man walks up. He starts making polite, broken conversation.
As he leaves, he goes to kiss the ladies on the cheek. He approaches one and gives an innocent kiss on the cheek. He goes to the next and approaches the same way, but lingers a little longer and the kiss is dangerously close to the corner of her mouth. He finally comes to me, and as he reaches in to kiss my cheek, he turns his head quickly to make lip-to-lip contact. I was so shocked, but how could I be mad. He smiled, and left to continue on his way. It must have been a good start to his day.
Information Station
Stub Hub
Hiking through the Cinque Terre is challenging, but very rewarding. I read ahead of time that these trails are not for everyone and I agree. We took the hike between Montorosso and Vernazza. There is a lot of uphill going this way, but once you get up there and start making your way down, it is not so bad. I highly recommend this walk because as you approach Vernazza, the view gets better and better. The picture at the top of this page was taken on this trail.
If someone were looking for a nice walk and not a hike, then the last trail from Manarola to Riomaggiore is my recommendation. This stretch of the trail is called Via Dell'Amore or the love walk. You don't have to be with a lover to enjoy this walk.
The train is a very efficient way to get from town to town. Some people just hopped on and off all day to see each area.
While in the Cinque Terre we took every form of transportation available. Although seeing the five towns by foot is great, it is also important to see it by water. Seeing the outside view of the towns is gorgeous. The water is so blue and the towns are so colorful. It was also very refreshing after the hiking to hop on the boat and feel the spraying breeze.
