New to Italy and wanting something to do on the weekend, an opportunity arose that we could not pass up. Early Saturday morning, we found ourselves loading onto a coach bus ready for a guided trip to Cinque Terre.
At our first stop, La Spezia, we took wonderful photos and caught our first sight of the brightly colored architecture. Waves clashed against cascading cliffs, while gulls soared amongst the clouds. With so much to see and feel, time had flown by. Before we knew it, our train arrived, ready to bring us to our second stop.
The neighboring land of Riomaggiore is home to the same vibrant structures and coastal vibes. Among the bustling streets of tourists and locals, the smell of something delicious wafted. Following the scent like a cartoon character drawn to fresh pie in a windowsill, I discovered the source… pesto pizza. After enjoying a slice, it was time to begin the hike to our final "land."
What I thought was going to be a normal hike along the cliffside ended up being what I could only describe as the medieval version of a Stairmaster. The hike consisted of hundreds of stone steps leading to the peak of a cliff and then finally back down towards the beaches of Monterosso. When we finally made it to the water, it was a relief I hadn’t felt in a long while.
The salty sea was refreshing and naturally buoyant, allowing me to relax and float, feeling like driftwood lost at sea. A wonderful conclusion to a magnificent day and a trip that I would not mind doing over again.