Hiking in Cinque Terre

I bought my plane ticket home.  I won't confirm or deny whether a little 20 lb piglet is the driving force behind that decision or not, but I did find this photo on one of my memory cards recently and it made me pretty sad.  She's having the time of her life with her new puppy buddy that she's staying with though so I'm guessing that the agenda looks something like this: fly home, find a place to live, get Brooklyn a puppy buddy.  

I get to see this smushy face in a mere 6 weeks.  Hopefully.  My path home is from one country with a little independence referendum up for vote next week and goes through another country with an active volcano.  

According to my tickets, I have just three weeks left in Italy before I head over to England and Scotland for a few weeks.  Three teeny, tiny weeks.   It really doesn't even seem real.   Knowing that my time here has a foreseeable end means I need to kick it into gear on the weekends.  Last weekend, it was back to Cinque Terre for a bit of hiking. 

I think a majority of people take the Riomaggiore to Monterosso route (south to north) but I started in Monterosso because Monterosso to Vernazza is supposed to be the hardest section of the hike.   I admire those that have those late bursts of energy when hiking.  If I came to a bazillion steps at the end of a long hot day on the trails, I'm not going to lie, I'd park it right there at the trailhead.  

Monterosso is relatively flat in comparison to her sisters and seemed more of a Riviera beach town type place.  Who wouldn't want to just spend the day on this beach instead of hiking right?

But alas, I followed the sign towards Vernazza.  The trail from Monterosso to Vernazza is indeed a bit of a physical adventure.  There were times when I'd look up and see stairs without any visible ending.  Imagine this site going on forever and ever and ever.  And ever. 

Once you summited though, it was a pretty easy hike from there.  The trail continued with inclines and declines but none as strenuous as that first effort up.  The trail was a little narrow in places and without railings so if you don't like windy mountain roads, you probably wouldn't like this section of the hike. 

But oh the view.  While this was the hardest section of the direct 5 city trail, it was also the most stunning in my opinion.  Direct, overhead sunlight and haze made for poor photography conditions for me, but this is a view you'll want to see for yourself anyway if you haven't already. 

Monterossa's beach left far behind.

Vernazza coming up. 

 I did say in a previous post that I'd reserve judgement on favorites until I'd visited all of the cities.  Manarola wins it for me.  

Aside from being obviously gorgeous, this city was more peaceful than her sisters (except Corniglia because she's on a cliff and fewer people are up for climbing up to visit).  The town had fewer restaurants and shops, but it had perfectly awesome caffe, gelato and focaccia.  What more do you need really?

What I especially liked about Manarola was this trail up high--you can walk around the city near the vineyards and see her from all different sides. 

Manarola also had the most perfect swimming spot.  If you take the paved trail along the water, you end up at a swimming hole where the water is pure turquoise and locals are sunning themselves on rocks.  Throw your suit in the bottom of your backpack because when you come upon places like these after hiking along a really hot trail, you'll want nothing more than to jump in.  

And if you are in Manarola, this is exactly how you should jump in.  Seriously, so sad I did not have my suit.

When all is said and done, hiking Cinque Terre is beautiful and definitely worth the effort, but there is also an easier way to see that cities that is pretty beautiful as well.  Buy an all-city boat pass in any of the towns except Corniglia and let the cool sea air blow through your hair.   It is a little crowded but the views can't be beat.