Day 14
The drive from Rome to Cinque Terre (or The Five Lands) was about 6 hours. David and I both brought our Kindles to help pass the time on these longer bus rides, although I did spent a fair amount of time just staring at the scenery and catching up on some shut eye.
The drive from Rome to Cinque Terre (or The Five Lands) was about 6 hours. David and I both brought our Kindles to help pass the time on these longer bus rides, although I did spent a fair amount of time just staring at the scenery and catching up on some shut eye.
Ben drove the bus down the narrow, winding roads to Cinque Terre so smoothly, you would never know there were sheer drops on either side of you! Dinner was not included, but our group went to dinner at a restaurant where you could get seafood by the bucket. I had a delicious pesto pasta, which the region is known for, and we shared a bottle of Cinque Terre Riesling. How cheap wine and beer were all over Europe was always mind blowing--often times a bottle of water cost more than a glass of wine! After dinner, we walked around the city and admired the beautifully lit shore in the moonlight.
Day 15
The Rick Steves website states that this day was to be a "vacation from your vacation" and it certainly didn't disappoint. Our first plan was to hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. This is one time that I wish I had packed a pair of shorts, oh was it a warm, warm day. Although we started the trail alone, we caught up to four of our group members on the trail, and we became a pack! It was nice to have a group cheering you on, especially for those steep climbs, and narrow paths.
The key to this hike was starting early, allowing us to take the trail at our pace, without feeling as though we needed to hurry to pass other groups. After our long walk, we wanted to see the other three towns, but decided the train was the way to go. At each stop, we wandered up and down the main city streets, stopping to look at shops or grab some snacks. Eventually, we made our way back to the hotel where our gracious hosts had prepared some light snacks and group members had brought wine and other treats. It was a great way to unwind and spend some time together. Afterwards, we walked the beach and saw a family with an Airedale Terrier--just like our Walter! After being gone for over 15 days, we were missing our pups, and were so excited to see this guy that we had to snap a photo!
The Rick Steves website states that this day was to be a "vacation from your vacation" and it certainly didn't disappoint. Our first plan was to hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. This is one time that I wish I had packed a pair of shorts, oh was it a warm, warm day. Although we started the trail alone, we caught up to four of our group members on the trail, and we became a pack! It was nice to have a group cheering you on, especially for those steep climbs, and narrow paths.
The key to this hike was starting early, allowing us to take the trail at our pace, without feeling as though we needed to hurry to pass other groups. After our long walk, we wanted to see the other three towns, but decided the train was the way to go. At each stop, we wandered up and down the main city streets, stopping to look at shops or grab some snacks. Eventually, we made our way back to the hotel where our gracious hosts had prepared some light snacks and group members had brought wine and other treats. It was a great way to unwind and spend some time together. Afterwards, we walked the beach and saw a family with an Airedale Terrier--just like our Walter! After being gone for over 15 days, we were missing our pups, and were so excited to see this guy that we had to snap a photo!