Then along come the Pearsons and we were (thankfully) sold.
The 5 towns are nestled along the rocky cliffs in such little, tightly woven hamlets that fairy tale is the only description I can assign. Well that and tourist mecca, holy cow.
We drove into the edge of Romaggiore,parked the car and greeted the hills. The steep incline down to the park HQ, where you need to buy a ticket to hike, or a pass that allows hiking & train/bus service costing 16 Euro/each, meant only one thing, at some point we were headed back up. I failed to put on my hiking boots, although Kathie wore her's, and we both left our hiking sticks in the car. Last time we make that mistake, its so much better to have those and not need them, take my advice.
The view was pretty of the coast:
The gang before departure:
We then proceeded to Corniglia, town number 3, as the lower/easier trails between towns 1&2 and 2&3 were closed, unfortunately. So Corniglia it was, and the train ride was in one word terrible. There were so many people on the train I could not move standing in the doorway, packed against Ron & Kathie and 27 other folks. Oh, it was hot on there too.
So we exit the train to fresh air but missed the bus up the hill to Corniglia and not having spent any time researching the place Kathie and I said let's just walk. So up the stairs we go, up, and up, and up, a solid 365 steps. Got our legs warmed up that's for sure.
I walked through the town a little looking for a fountain to refill our water bottles, walking right past it but allowing me to see some of the town. Honestly of the 3 we visited I wished we'd have spent more time in Corniglia, it was very cute. Alas the hike was calling so we set off for Vernazza expecting a mostly downhill trek. Again, read people before you go, there is so much out there that you can be prepared for these kind of things. As I said earlier, no hiking shoes, no sticks, plenty of uphill rocky trail. But it was peaceful and exhilarating to be out in the fresh air, checking out the spectactular views, and doing my favorite form of exercise, a hike. It took us about 2 hours to get from Corniglia to Vernazza, a little longer than the expected time but we stopped quite a bit for pictures and rest, it wasn't a race afterall.
Corniglia in the background:
Corniglia (1st pennisula) and Manorola (2nd penninsula)
As we approached Vernazza:
So we hiked down to the city and grabbed the first table for 5 we could find. The town was absolutely packed, and mind you no vehicles are allowed in any of the towns. The streets are windy and hilly, and in June shoulder to shoulder with every nationality you could imagine. I was walking behind an older Italian gentleman who was in a hurry and he was bitching and complaining about the foot traffic, it was hilarious. Anyway, our lunch spot had a decent selection of food but for lunch we spent far too much money. Such is life.
We departed lunch and headed for the sea, afterall this was the Ligurian Sea, the last notch on my quest for swimming in all 5 seas surrounding Italy. The main beach was crowded, kind of dirty, and more of a small port than a swimming destination. Then we found the spot, around a gate and under the rock
Really, under the rock to the open sea. So the "beach" was rocky, and that's moss on the rock not yuckies, but I was all set.
No swimsuit, no problem, my shorts would dry, I was not missing this opportunity. The water was refreshing after the hike, the view was great and I was 5-5, Ligurian, Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian and the Mediterreranean.
Of course brother Ron joined me for the dip.
All is well that ends with a dip in the sea, and the day was a good one. Thankfully Ron & Rose Ann talked us into going, the Cinque Terre is a similar yet different version of the Amalfi Coast and one that should not be missed. My advice, travel in the off season and sacrifice the swim.
We enjoyed pizzas for supper after the 2 hour drive back to the agriturismo, then a good night's sleep.
Ciao!
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