My Solo Adventure

THE CINQUE TERRE, ITALY

Mon, Oct 28th, 2013 After my 14 days of teaching, I began a solo trek of two of Italy's most beautiful places. My first stop was in the Cinque Terre.

Thanks to travel guru Rick Steves, my visit to the town of Vernazza was made perfect by my reservation at Gianni Franzi's wonderful inn. With a spectacular view of the great Ligurian Sea, who's powerful waters humbles these 5 cliff towns, I knew it was the right place for me after the intensity of my 2week workshop.

Just some history, this is the northern region of Tuscany, south of the French Rivera along the Ligurian Sea. Cinque means 5, so this is the 'five lands' that were established in Medieval times. In the feudal era, this land was watched over by castles. Small communities grew up in the protective shadow of castles, which the residents ran to when Turkish pirate ships would raid, slaughter and maim in relentless attacks.

After 1545, when the last attack was reported, villages flourished as fishing towns and grape growers. Cinque Terre is also known for its basil, so pesto is a regional specialty and fragrant throughout the land.

The Cinque Terre paths of today were the main route of travel here from the 1100's until just 100 years ago when roads were built. As a result, these cliff hiking trails, perched high above the water, are stable & designed for human travel. Even though it is just a few miles from town to town, the ascent UP THE CLIFF is not for the faint of heart or those who fear heights. if you take the plunge, YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID! The views are simply stellar, the fresh sea air is delicious and the 'get away from it all' will sink into your soul.

I stayed in Vernazza, one town south of Monterosso al Mare. My first trek took me from Vernazza to Monterosso, CT's largest town. They say this is the most difficult of the 5 hikes. It was a steep incline that stole your breath away many times, but once you finish the ascent, the trail levels off to a magnificent walk. Steep inclines are met by stairs, which are met by narrow passageways. In between all that is stunning views.

Slowly as you hike, one town disappears as the other comes into closer view. The anticipation is exhilarating. I explored Monterosso, had lunch, an espresso, and then took the hike right back to Vernazza. Even though it was the same trail, the light had changed and I was seeing everything all over again, but from a different view. It was late in the day, about 4pm, and the trek was divine. Next stop, Corneglia, the smallest of the CT towns, perched high above the water on a cliff.



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My Room View
My Room View

My Room View
The Other Direction
The Other Direction

The Other Direction
Vernazza by the Sea
Vernazza by the Sea

Vernazza by the Sea
The beginning trek
The beginning trek

The beginning trek
Many more like this
Many more like this

Many more like this
Looking down at Vernazza
Looking down at Vernazza

Looking down at Vernazza
And out to sea
And out to sea

And out to sea
Toward Monterosso
Toward Monterosso

Toward Monterosso
Exhilaration & joy!
Exhilaration & joy!

Exhilaration & joy!
More paths...
More paths...

More paths...
And panoramas
And panoramas

And panoramas
All picturesque
All picturesque

All picturesque
Still more stairs
Still more stairs

Still more stairs
The descent begins
The descent begins

The descent begins
Looking down to town
Looking down to town

Looking down to town
Monterosso in view!
Monterosso in view!

Monterosso in view!
Her quaint streets
Her quaint streets

Her quaint streets
Beautiful alleys
Beautiful alleys

Beautiful alleys
And festive porches
And festive porches

And festive porches
Her shoreline!
Her shoreline!

Her shoreline!
Homeward bound
Homeward bound

Homeward bound
Next trek Corneglia
Next trek Corneglia

Next trek Corneglia

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