Day 5: Cinque Terre
“Fear is for people who don't get out very much.”
― Rick Steves
Hidden Coves
“Cinque Terre” means five lands, which refers to the five towns on the Ligurian Sea. Independent-minded Tuscans fleeing the wars and persecution of the urban areas settled the challenging mountain terrain because pirates roamed the coast. Eventually, the cutthroats were eliminated, and the pioneers settled along the shore where the steep, high mountains abruptly meet the sea.
Teens are impervious to cold and a little rain.
Cold but beautiful
The weather was cool, windy, and a little misty rain blew in from the sea. This did not dampen our spirits as we took in this paradise along the boardwalk.
These cacti grow all around the Mediterranean. I have seen them all around that wondrous sea.
Handwashing and wine at the pensione.
Bob and Eva’s room had a delightful courtyard patio. There were private apartments next door, so it felt like we weren’t staying in a hotel.
Did you know that…?
Western-facing coastal lands worldwide tend to be particularly fertile because the Jet stream blows from west to east.
A seafood cornucopia
Best Meal of the Trip: Anfora Belvedere
We devoured our BEST MEAL on this trip at the Ristorante Belvedere right on the shore. Ten of us filled a corner table with panoramic views on two sides. This dish's name is “Anfora Belvedere,” which is a tall clay pot overflowing with whole octopus, lobster, mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, and scallops. Super yum.
Bob presenting the lush hillside between Monterosso and Vernazza.
Vernazza
Bob and Eva hiked the famous cliffside path from Monterosso to Vernazza with me sick from a cold.
Eva says: “Taking in lots of fresh air and panoramic views, with a little sprinkle and a waterspout sighting in the distance, was fortuitous. Paying a fee to hike was easy because you can pay using euros right on the trail, and it was worth it. Every step and every bend down the path was beautiful. “
Jagged shore beach
A steep vineyard patio above the hotel
A long, steep hike then gelato
The Capuchin Monastery across the valley
Saluti a buona fortuna!
We toasted to our good fortune at a vineyard hillside wine tasting. Cheers!
Shaded by grapevines
From our hillside perch on a private terrace high up in the hills, we had a tasting of the local wine. We toasted the unbelievable view, our generous luck, and each other’s warm company. The wine, a local vintage, tasted light, fresh, and crisp. It was a good day.
Hotel Pasquale Restaurant
That evening we had a pesto-making workshop at the Hotel Pasquale restaurant led by Mr. & Mrs. Pasini. The pairing of the fresh-made pasta al pesto with the local crisp white wine is memorable.
Gina Lollobrigida
We took an evening stroll after our satisfying pasta al pesto. The after 7 pm dinner Italians were out in abundance. I felt as if we were in an Italian movie from the 50s or 60s like “La Dolce Vita” or a fluffy comedy with the generously endowed Gina Lollobrigida.
Arrivederci Monterosso on the Sea
We will savor memories of the clink of wine glasses with the hearty laughs of fellow travelers and sounds of the shore below us from our mountain aerie.