So Much Wine!: Part II

Do you enjoy the view of steep hillsides plunging into sparkling blue water, terraced viticulture, and historic villages built into cliffs?

Do you like warm, fresh baked foccacia bread in your mouth or the crisp refreshing taste of a nice white wine on a hot day?

What about hospitality from some of the friendliest, most beautiful people? Or enjoying peaceful summer nights on the second floor balcony of a mansion with good friends (drinks courtesy of an actual dumbwaiter)?

Mmmm, sounds nice doesn't it? There's more. Like hiking approximately seven of the most beautiful miles I've ever seen between five fishing villages on the Italian coast. And homemade pesto from the region that invented pesto. Oh! And let us not forget the seafood. Fish ravioli on a cliff at sunset? Seafood risotto served out of a large ceramic table-side cauldron? Lobster for lunch? Yes, please.

If I haven't convinced you yet, there is a rock enclosed lagoon to swim in or sunbathe on, fun independent shops, WWII Nazi bunkers, all the American summer break co-eds one could want (okay, wait...that might actually be a negative...), and there are more actual residents than tourists, seen every evening at the bocce ball court or out enjoying the cafes with ocean views.

You might be thinking, "Okay dammit, where is this place?" And the answer to your question dear friends is Italy's Cinque Terre.

Megan and I arrived early on a stormy evening halfway through our Italy trip and we might have been a few bottles of wine deep by the time we met Josh at the train station later that night. I'll never forget those first few moments in Monetrosso after stepping off the train. One is literally beachside after leaving the train station. After walking through a tunnel in the hill to reach the other side of town, we proceeded to walk past many outdoor dining areas, under crumbly cement catwalks, surrounded by lush vegetation, down a narrow alley, by an ancient church's open door which revealed an interior lit entirely by candlelight, and to our backpacker's dream hotel for 25 Euro per person/per night room with our own french door balcony.       

I was not sad about it.

We were there four nights, and while it's hard to choose a favorite thing or moment, I'd have to say the hike connecting the villages was a major highlight for me. The path had many steep climbs up stone stairs, usually in the hot hot sun. The barrierless trail narrowed a bit too much for my liking at a point or two* - one misstep and you're tumbling down a few hundred feet into the ocean. But the visual rewards were incredible and the goblet sized mojitos in Corniglia delightful.

(*Have I mentioned that I'm the biggest baby in the world about heights? I'm actually afraid that my body will disobey my mind and just spasm itself right off a cliff without permission. If you ever want to know how deep this fear of heights goes, just ask my Uncle Greg how I threw myself on the ground in horror when he jokingly, and without knowing of my phobia, acted like he was going to toss me over the edge of a waterfall. I've rarely seen him look apologetic about a joke...)

But enough with the wordy portion of this blog post and on to the main attraction: the photos.

Source: Consorzio Turistico Cinque Terre

Nom, nom, nom!!

The beginning of the trail leading south from Monterosso

One of the beaches in Monterosso. We stayed up the hill from this beach.

Me and the beach!

Another beach in Monterosso north of the first one.

That is a private residence. Yeah, I know...

A streetside kitchen window. Every time we passed by there were piles of seafood on the counters. Yum.

We're about to enjoy some of that delicious seafood.

Monterosso

Previously mentioned church that was lit every night by candlelight.

A quiet morning

Beginning the hike! We started south from the same town that we stayed in, Monterosso, which also happened to be the northernmost one of the five towns.

Approaching Veranzza, the second town

Shortly after this picture was taken, we were on that beach and in that water!

Josh leading the way into Vernazza.

Well, it appears that I am running out of room for this post according to my blog hosting site. If you'd like to see a few (okay, 12) more pictures including the rest of hike, please click here: The Rest of the Cinque Terre