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For a weekend trip two weeks ago, a bunch of people from my school went to Cinque Terre (literally Five Lands). Along the northern coastline of Italy, Cinque Terre is actually five small towns built on the cliffs of the Mediteranean that have now been established as a national park with hiking trails connecting the line. We chose to stay for two nights in the most southern town, Riomaggiore, and hike the entire length of the trail on Saturday. After traveling about four hours on train to get there on Friday, we just chilled that afternoon in town.
There are some really beautiful vibrant flowers here...
... and some rather unusual ones (Erin liked them).
The water was simply gorgeous and so we spent the entire afternoon on the coast. There aren't really any beaches, per say, though rumor had it the fifth town along the trail had an actual beach. Where we were staying, it was rocky cliffs, but beautiful nonetheless. Most of the group went swimming, several went kayaking, and a few started cliff jumping. ...somehow (I guess since I didn't have a swimsuit), I got stuck watching the bags. oh well, water was pretty, I got a nice tan in the sun, and the cliff divers were entertaining.
... a few of the divers that I actually knew. At one point, another university visiting as well swarmed the area and started doing a lot more daring jumps, higher up and even some somersault flips.
The view from our hostel. Our hostels in the group ended up being more like small apartments scattered throughout the town. Somehow all the other groups got ones right next to the beach with living rooms and kitchenettes. My group got stuck with one with two bedrooms and a small broken bath that was at the very top of the hill, higher than even the town's clock tower. Of course, the lady kept saying "but you've got the room with view" as if apologizing for the fifteen minute climb to our room. Oh well, I guess it did have a view.
Early Saturday morning, we began the intercity hike, which traversed the mountainous terrain along the coast line of the towns, covering over seven miles. It took us nearly six hours, including the small breaks we took at each town. When we woke up, we discovered that the bright sunny weather of the previous day had been replaced with windy and rainy overcast. But we had bright spirits and made the best of it, as Jennifer (above, at the beginning of the trail) proves, despite shivering in the chilly temperatures. The first leg of the trail was a bit of a tease. It was completely level, flat and paved, following the sea exactly and only about 20 minutes long. No sweat, right? ...
Along the first trail was many graffiti murals and various art and sculptures, all about a similar theme of love and peace. This symbol of the kissing people was everywhere, as were the locks, also symbolic of something (but I can't remember what).
Here's the second coastal town, Manarola. We looked around the shops a little, but didn't stay too long. On to the next leg of the trip.
...more of Manarola. The next trail was harder, about 45 minutes with a little more rocky terrain and a lot more uphill.
In the middle, we found a staircase leading to the rocky shore below, so everyone decided to take a break. It had been raining quite a bit and hiking in the rain is kind of tiring. Besides, it was great photo opportunity.
...especially when everyone started climbing on the rocks. They were really nice pics, though unfortunately for Chris, right after he got on the rock, a huge wave crashed and he was totally soaked. Luckily he didn't fall off, and besides being wet, he seemed okay and just laughed it off with everyone.
Eventually, after climbing a staircase on the side of one large hill that entailed 382 steps (the sign I'm pointing to is congratulating those who made it), we made it to the third town, Corniglia. We decided it was time for a lunch break. By this point, our large group from the beginning had long dispersed as people walked faster than others (I swear the people at the front must have jogged the whole time), so I was only with a few others by now.
Corniglia!
Getting lunch... (l-r: me, Grace, and Chris)
...back to the trail, "halfway" there... sort of. We were at the middle town, but the third trail took just over an hour of much more difficult terrain - no paved roads here. Lots more narrow paths and rocky substitutes for stairs that were much steeper up and down than previously.
... However, the views were spectacular. They were simply breathtaking, the pictures really don't do it justice, but I'll try my best...
Luckily, I guess the food or perhaps the fresh air or the fact that it wasn't raining anymore, but I got a second wind and was able to keep up with the front of the group and actually enjoy it. So while this was a more adventureous part of the trail, I think it was my favorite. It definitely had some of the best views.
And then we finally made it to the fourth town, Vernazza. This was my favorite of the five, I think the prettiest. Most everyone agreed had we come back, we would have stayed in this town instead.
We took a little bit longer here, just enjoying the afternoon sun on the coast that jutted out into the sea. Since the weather had been worse, the waves were really big and choppy that day, but it made it fun to watch (and you had to watch, to make sure you could get out of the way in time since some of the waves came up pretty far).
And now, the last leg of the trail, by far the hardest and longest, over an hour and a half of hiking up and down, not just along the coast but through caves and vineyards and streams, with lots of paths that didn't even look like paths, that were barely a foot wide (that made passing people going the other direction a little tricky), that turned so sharply and randomly you weren't even sure you were still on the path. ... somehow, we all made it (though halfway through, we got scattered so much that I did the rest alone).
... just one of the rocky slopes.
... happy hikers (l-r) Erin, Haley, and Chris
near the end, there was a bridge where the sun hit just right so our shadows were on the cliffs behind us.
... finally, the fifth and final town, Monterosso! and the rumored beach! ... though it ended up being a rocky beach, where the "sand" was really just small pebbles... not quite Cancun... but at least we got to say we made it the whole way, and had a chance to sit and relax.
... the swimmers (l-r: Matt, Grace, Erin, and Chris)
... and the watchers (l-r: Jennifer, Ryann, Courtney R., Courtney B., Haley, and me). While the waves were mostly at bay, one giant wave came out of nowhere and left us trapped against the wall, scrambling to grab everyones stuff. Luckily, the swimmers were far enough out that they were able to save everyone's shoes from entering the ocean, and I don't think anyone lost anything, though Haley's camera was submerged and got ruined. ...we left after that.
The swimmers, Matt (above) especially, thought it was fun to jump in the waves and let it roll them around, though maybe he should save that for sandy beaches... the rocks weren't so forgiving.
...one last look at the beach and the coastline before we took a train back to the first town. The part of coast in the far distance is only the third town... and I hiked all of that and more. It was a very full weekend. And it wasn't even over. The next day on the way back, we stopped in Pisa.
For a weekend trip two weeks ago, a bunch of people from my school went to Cinque Terre (literally Five Lands). Along the northern coastline of Italy, Cinque Terre is actually five small towns built on the cliffs of the Mediteranean that have now been established as a national park with hiking trails connecting the line. We chose to stay for two nights in the most southern town, Riomaggiore, and hike the entire length of the trail on Saturday. After traveling about four hours on train to get there on Friday, we just chilled that afternoon in town.
There are some really beautiful vibrant flowers here...
... and some rather unusual ones (Erin liked them).
The water was simply gorgeous and so we spent the entire afternoon on the coast. There aren't really any beaches, per say, though rumor had it the fifth town along the trail had an actual beach. Where we were staying, it was rocky cliffs, but beautiful nonetheless. Most of the group went swimming, several went kayaking, and a few started cliff jumping. ...somehow (I guess since I didn't have a swimsuit), I got stuck watching the bags. oh well, water was pretty, I got a nice tan in the sun, and the cliff divers were entertaining.
... a few of the divers that I actually knew. At one point, another university visiting as well swarmed the area and started doing a lot more daring jumps, higher up and even some somersault flips.
The view from our hostel. Our hostels in the group ended up being more like small apartments scattered throughout the town. Somehow all the other groups got ones right next to the beach with living rooms and kitchenettes. My group got stuck with one with two bedrooms and a small broken bath that was at the very top of the hill, higher than even the town's clock tower. Of course, the lady kept saying "but you've got the room with view" as if apologizing for the fifteen minute climb to our room. Oh well, I guess it did have a view.
Early Saturday morning, we began the intercity hike, which traversed the mountainous terrain along the coast line of the towns, covering over seven miles. It took us nearly six hours, including the small breaks we took at each town. When we woke up, we discovered that the bright sunny weather of the previous day had been replaced with windy and rainy overcast. But we had bright spirits and made the best of it, as Jennifer (above, at the beginning of the trail) proves, despite shivering in the chilly temperatures. The first leg of the trail was a bit of a tease. It was completely level, flat and paved, following the sea exactly and only about 20 minutes long. No sweat, right? ...
Along the first trail was many graffiti murals and various art and sculptures, all about a similar theme of love and peace. This symbol of the kissing people was everywhere, as were the locks, also symbolic of something (but I can't remember what).
Here's the second coastal town, Manarola. We looked around the shops a little, but didn't stay too long. On to the next leg of the trip.
...more of Manarola. The next trail was harder, about 45 minutes with a little more rocky terrain and a lot more uphill.
In the middle, we found a staircase leading to the rocky shore below, so everyone decided to take a break. It had been raining quite a bit and hiking in the rain is kind of tiring. Besides, it was great photo opportunity.
...especially when everyone started climbing on the rocks. They were really nice pics, though unfortunately for Chris, right after he got on the rock, a huge wave crashed and he was totally soaked. Luckily he didn't fall off, and besides being wet, he seemed okay and just laughed it off with everyone.
Eventually, after climbing a staircase on the side of one large hill that entailed 382 steps (the sign I'm pointing to is congratulating those who made it), we made it to the third town, Corniglia. We decided it was time for a lunch break. By this point, our large group from the beginning had long dispersed as people walked faster than others (I swear the people at the front must have jogged the whole time), so I was only with a few others by now.
Corniglia!
Getting lunch... (l-r: me, Grace, and Chris)
...back to the trail, "halfway" there... sort of. We were at the middle town, but the third trail took just over an hour of much more difficult terrain - no paved roads here. Lots more narrow paths and rocky substitutes for stairs that were much steeper up and down than previously.
... However, the views were spectacular. They were simply breathtaking, the pictures really don't do it justice, but I'll try my best...
Luckily, I guess the food or perhaps the fresh air or the fact that it wasn't raining anymore, but I got a second wind and was able to keep up with the front of the group and actually enjoy it. So while this was a more adventureous part of the trail, I think it was my favorite. It definitely had some of the best views.
And then we finally made it to the fourth town, Vernazza. This was my favorite of the five, I think the prettiest. Most everyone agreed had we come back, we would have stayed in this town instead.
We took a little bit longer here, just enjoying the afternoon sun on the coast that jutted out into the sea. Since the weather had been worse, the waves were really big and choppy that day, but it made it fun to watch (and you had to watch, to make sure you could get out of the way in time since some of the waves came up pretty far).
And now, the last leg of the trail, by far the hardest and longest, over an hour and a half of hiking up and down, not just along the coast but through caves and vineyards and streams, with lots of paths that didn't even look like paths, that were barely a foot wide (that made passing people going the other direction a little tricky), that turned so sharply and randomly you weren't even sure you were still on the path. ... somehow, we all made it (though halfway through, we got scattered so much that I did the rest alone).
... just one of the rocky slopes.
... happy hikers (l-r) Erin, Haley, and Chris
near the end, there was a bridge where the sun hit just right so our shadows were on the cliffs behind us.
... finally, the fifth and final town, Monterosso! and the rumored beach! ... though it ended up being a rocky beach, where the "sand" was really just small pebbles... not quite Cancun... but at least we got to say we made it the whole way, and had a chance to sit and relax.
... the swimmers (l-r: Matt, Grace, Erin, and Chris)
... and the watchers (l-r: Jennifer, Ryann, Courtney R., Courtney B., Haley, and me). While the waves were mostly at bay, one giant wave came out of nowhere and left us trapped against the wall, scrambling to grab everyones stuff. Luckily, the swimmers were far enough out that they were able to save everyone's shoes from entering the ocean, and I don't think anyone lost anything, though Haley's camera was submerged and got ruined. ...we left after that.
The swimmers, Matt (above) especially, thought it was fun to jump in the waves and let it roll them around, though maybe he should save that for sandy beaches... the rocks weren't so forgiving.
...one last look at the beach and the coastline before we took a train back to the first town. The part of coast in the far distance is only the third town... and I hiked all of that and more. It was a very full weekend. And it wasn't even over. The next day on the way back, we stopped in Pisa.
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