Having scoped out Riomaggiore and Manarola the day before and after a good sleep, we were ready for a more ambitious walk. But first to enjoy coffee and breakfast on our balcony.
Mornings are the best. We could see some Italian warships in the harbor.Chilling.Bananinos for breakfast!This church, between our apartment and the train station, was similar to those in Florence,Some reflective reading on the train to Monterosso al MareLess reflection and more looking at the view.Monterosso was beautiful but the umbrellas on the beach hinted at a different vibe. We were starting at 9am so it was still quiet on the front.
Our hiking plan was to walk on the mountain trail from Monterosso to Vernazza and onto Corniglia.
Our original plan had been to walk TO Monterosso but this sign indicated there was a one way system. It was a hint that there were going to be lots of people!We started the walk along Monterosso’s front and it was beautiful in the morning light.It was a beautiful but tough climb up the path out of Monterosso. There were plenty of others walking early to avoid the heat so it felt a bit crowded but the views were great.A great selfie at the top.From the ridge we had great views along the coast spotting the inlets that led to the little towns.There were some fun views as we walked along “the top” from arch bridges and waterfalls to cactus and terraced farming.This sign reminded me of hiking in England. All these trails go through land where farmers are making their living in a tough environment. They have been doing it for generations.After some time on the relatively flat top, we started descending into Vernazzo. It was steep but the views were great.At first, we enjoyed the quiet backstreets as we entered the small town.We found a quiet cafe to have a refreshing drink but the crowds increased as we sat there.We were intrigued by the pulley system used on this washing line that we could see from our cafe.There was a cool view up the mountain, though when looking closely, we could see lots of people on the trail.The crowds grew in town.This was our trail’s profile, going right to left. At Vernazzo, we were in the middle. With the heat and crowds increasing, and our knees feeling it, we decided the skip continuing the walk to Corniglia. We expected the walk to be similar to the first half and the town would likely be the same, including the crowds.At Vernazzo station, I loved how the normalcy of having the washing on the balcony was right next to the trains and tunnels.We took the train back to Monterosso and rented some beach chairs and an umbrella so Bailey could get her beach time. Peter went for a swim but it was too cold for anyone else. The sand was too hot to stand on! The beach isn’t Janet’s and Peter’s thing so they left Bailey and Jett alone to enjoy it.An interesting sign as we looked for lunch!We found a great cafe where we could enjoy some focaccia (on Janet’s list to eat in this area) and let Bailey know about the iced latte.Janet and Peter took the train back to La Spezia and found a coffee and gelato shop where they could enjoy an affogato without the crowds. An affogato is an espresso shot poured over ice cream!Our wandering around La Spezia took us down to the port and past many different sights. There was an interesting memorial to the Italians who had resisted the Nazis. There was a busy port with an interesting mix of motorboats, sail boats, cruise ships, and container ships. Our wandering led us to a small restaurant called La Pia Centenaria which served the final two things on Janet’s list to try: farinata (pancake made with chick pea flour) and pesto. The restaurant was started by a lady called Pia in 1887 but its former location was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War – probably British or American bombs! As our wandering continued, we noticed these ornate balconies!
Bailey and Jett returned from the beach and we finished off the day at a quiet restaurant where Bailey could try a pesto pasta. Peter tried the bistecca Milanese, which was just like chicken fried steak in Texas! We had to pack for our final train journey the following day. Cinque Terre had been beautiful but the dense crowds had made it less enjoyable for us.
"Cajunlimeys" combines Lousiana (Janet) and England (Peter). For "limeys," check out scurvy in the English navy.
We love adventures and use blogging to write a photo diary to preserve our memories. Some crazy friends enjoy following us and my notes might help others plan.
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One thought on “Italy Day 10: Hiking and Swimming Cinque Terre”
love the pictures and the write ups, quite the trip!
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 
love the pictures and the write ups, quite the trip!
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