Blog note: If we remotely paid attention to time order on this blog this post would actually go before the secret bakeries, however after hearing Ellen rave on and on about this delicious secret (which I'm determined to make her go back with me) it's completely understandable why she immediately wanted to let the world (aka friends and family back home) know about the deliciousness found in Florence in the a.m.
Cinque Terre, a.k.a. the five lands, a.k.a. one of the most tourist-trafficked, yet extremely idyllic places in Italy. The Cinque Terre are five towns on the Tuscan coast, connected by train rails and hiking trails. Every year thousands of tourists (and plenty of study abroad students) slip on their tennis shoes to hike the gorgeous terrain connecting these five charming towns, and last Saturday we pulled out those nike shorts and Chi O tank tops (okay, maybe just me) and joined in on the fun.
X and a horse shoe representing
After some advice from our dear pal Rick Steve's and much better advice from Clara's blog (clarainitaly.blogspot.com) Ellen, David, Conner, Mary Haley and I hopped on a train headed towards La Spezia (the entrance to the park). After a rather confusing moment at the train station where I got to use my Italian travel lingo a little more we figured out we had to hop another train to the first town of the five and then start from there. After finally getting to the first town Riomaggiore and grabbing some delicious pizza, we went through the tunnel to start our hike.... which was more like a nice long leisurely stroll, so fine by me.
Ellen, Mary Haley and Rick.
Riomaggiore
Gotta love these kids.
In the second town, Manarola (where we grabbed some delicious gelato), we learned (after hiking halfway to the third town, and pausing for a swim and some sunbathing on the rocks) that the hike was closed due to... eh who knows? (It's Italy, things just close sometimes.) So we hopped aboard the local train to head off to Corniglia. The only town not located on the sea, it gets one picture, because we were only there long enough to take that one shot. Pretty worn out from our Pisa trip the day before and anxious to get to the last town (a.k.a. the beach) and just being the lovely lazy ladies we are we stayed on the train through Vernazza (the fourth town) and got off in Monterosso al Mare and headed straight for the sun, sand, and surf.
A pause on the rocks.
David didn't fall this time, we're so impressed!
Rocks to rock.
Manarola
Waiting for the train.
My one photo from Corniglia ha!
Ellen at Monterosso!
While Ellen and David napped on the beach, Conner, Mary Haley and I went kayaking (yes kayaking! Complete with the discovery of a freshwater waterfall and dive pool) in the Mediterranean which is one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Then it was back to the beach and off to dinner and an evening passeggiata through the town, which was quaint and cute and charming and so Italian. Then one rather eventful train, erm, bus? ride later we were back in Florence with some photographs of one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Monterosso by night.
Oh those Italian trains.
Favorite part? Rocks to rock.
ReplyDelete