Category: Cinque Terre

I’m on my way out of Cinque Terre for the second time this trip. I’m so glad I went back, it was like getting more summer. I really liked having more warm beach time after my time in the Tuscan hills. This time I didn’t feel obligated to do any of the hikes, I just relaxed on the beach. I can’t believe how fast time goes by at Cinque Terre, it felt like I was in and out, not there for 5 days.

I hung out more with the Albanian guys I quickly mentioned in my other 5 Terre post. It was super fun going out with locals at night. I went to a birthday party one night for the first one I met, Elton, in La Spezia. It was really interesting how the language dynamic changes so easily. One minute I am the least able to communicate person in the room, add another English speaker, and I’m the translator. It’s both fascinating and exhausting.

Now I am on my way to Germany. It will take me a whole day in transit. I’m spending 2 nights in Berlin. Then meeting Steve and Chris from High School in Munich. After that it’s back to my old stomping grounds: Milano. Then to settle down in Rome. Pretty excited for all of it!

[Edit] Link to Le Cinque Terre Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/kaitlyn.hanrahan/20100825CinqueTerre#

Everyone who came through my hostel / apartment was just staying for about 2 nights, and I was thinking maybe I planned too much time wanting to stay for a week. Now I can’t believe it is over already. I’m so glad I stayed that full week. I could probably stay a whole summer. I got to do the walk that everyone does from first town to last, and split it between two easy beach days. Did nothing but tan and swim a few days. Checked out some of the towns: I stayed in Riamaggore (5), visited Vernazza, (3) and visited and beached in Monterossa (1). I just walked through the other two.

The best part about staying for even a whole week was it felt so comfortable my last days. I couldn’t walk down the main street in Riamagiore with out running into someone I had met before. There was the nice boy at my favorite foccaciaria, the guy I did some of my hike with, the Canadian girl at the dress shop who fixed a dress I ripped (she moved here with her husband, who is from here), the guy who runs Cinque Terre Holiday, the other travelers in my apartment, or the Albanian guys I made friends with. So far no complaints about traveling by myself!

[Edit] Link to Le Cinque Terre Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/kaitlyn.hanrahan/20100825CinqueTerre#

First thing when I got here I was going to take a shower, but I got the better suggestion of going to the beach first. In Riomaggiore the beach is rocks, not sand, but it is still really nice. The water is warm and dark blue. People sun bath each on their own big flat rock or there is a pebble beach, too. There are two nice little coves that almost feel like swimming pools. The water is a clear dark blue. I can’t reach the bottom, but I can see it and there are no fish. I saw a group of people cliff diving during my swim, not too high, but I’m sure it seems higher when you jump. I might check that out before I go.

My first full day I woke up at 4 AM from jet lag and walked around Riomaggore taking pictures. I spent some time exploring Vernazza– Rick Steve’s favorite of the 5 towns. And I went to La Spezia to get my phone figured out at Vodaphone. Not much to see in La Spezia that I could tell.

I did the big 5-town hike the next day. Still naturally waking up early I was on the trail at 6 AM. I’m glad I was because that is the only time of day that it is pleasant here. I actually gave up at town 4 because that it the hardest part of the trail and I was getting hot and tired. During my walk I met a boy named Elton from Albania. He showed me around town later and I met up with him and his friends the next day.

My hostel is an apartment with 6 beds in it. The people here have been so nice! They are mostly people traveling like me, for months or with no end in sight. For a few nights I had 5 Australians!

I leave the day after tomorrow. My plans are to do that last bit of the hike, get a better feel for some of the other towns and be on my way.

[Edit] Link to Le Cinque Terre Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/kaitlyn.hanrahan/20100825CinqueTerre#