While visiting with our friends, Loverci and Sergio, in their lovely apartment in Reggio Nell Emilia, we decided to take a day trip with them to see Cinque Terre. This is a series of five villages all in a row and located on the cliffsides and western coast of Italy about 2.5 hours drive from our friends' place. It is a magical place, even if it is full to brimming with tourists of all description - more Americans than we had encountered in all the weeks prior to this day.
The place was hit by a major mudslide and flood in October of 2011 and as a result, much was still being repaired and under construction. There are trails you can walk between each of the little towns, or you can take a train. Word of caution, the "lover's" trail, which is the first one, is only about 20 minutes to walk and not terribly strenuous. The trail between the fourth and fifth towns (Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare) is supposed to be a two hour walk. It took us almost four. It is not for the old - even middle aged with bad knees need to beware. Other than that, it provided some of the most spectacular sights of the sea and the cliffsides imaginable.
Very, very good friends Loverci and Sergio below with us on the trail. It was an arduous but completely unforgettable day.
Here below, is the trail that actually doesn't seem all that bad in the photo, but it was remarkably narrow and the cliff was unprotected and a LONG way down. This is for people to pass each other along the way too.
We couldn't post this blog without a photo of the super cute Cacao, Loverci and Sergio's cat who warmed up to us after about 4 days. What a sweetie!
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