TRA[life]VELS

None of us knew anything about our last stop on our Italy tour, and we didn't get there until close to midnight. We woke up in the Cinqua Terre hostel and look out the window...we are ON the coast, the sun in shining, around 60 degrees, and best of all, no planned activities! Cinqua Terre is the Malibu of Italy. Its not quite tourist season yet so it was quiet and quaint and just perfect. I don't actually think that place is too touristy anyway. Cinqua Terre means "5 Terraces" which we found out was because it is made up of 5 little cities on hills that sit directly on the coast line. The one we stayed in was Manarola. There was an awesome hiking trail to Corniglia (the next town) so we took that. It was probably about an hour of dirt trail and ocean. The trail was cut directly into the side of the cliffs...we even crossed a rickety old bridge. When we got to Corniglia it was almost lunch time, so we walked around for a bit before we stopped in this hole in the wall to get some foccacia sandwiches which were amazing AND cheap! Then we got some gelato and took it down to this spot on the cliff with a park bench and we just sat and stared at the ocean in the warm sun for a good 3 hours. Then we decided to take a train two towns over to Vernazza. This town was a bit more touristy, but just as beautiful. We walked around, saw an old church, explored an old castle/fortress, and got pizza before we left back on the train home arriving just in time to see the sunset. Good day. Overall good trip.