Easyjet delivered me safely to Athens, where I hopped on the “new metro” to my hostel, Athens’ Backpackers, which I walked past and asked directions to twice, before successfully locating it! It was just too close, I guess? Anyway, it’s run by Aussies and the friendly receptionist from Perth kindly handed me my key before telling me my room was on the third floor, up the spiral staircase (and we were on floor 0). Once I recovered from sweating through my jeans and knee-high leather boots, I slapped on more temp-appropriate clothing and went for a 3 hour evening stroll a [View Full Entry]

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We spent a quiet last morning in the spic and span abode of 27 Alfani, mostly because Steph was too hungover to form sentences, but also because her roommates, Claire and Kaitlyn were already enroute to the US. Her 3rd roommate, Nicole, and I weren’t in top condition either, but probably in marathon shape compared to Steph. We squeezed in about 4 hours of sleep after holding Steph’s hair back over multiple (since disposed of) towels on her living room floor. After dragging her home through the streets of Florence close to 3AM, against her insistence that she have more to [View Full Entry]

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A mini excursion to a mini bite of Tuscany... [View Full Entry]

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Woke up to another rainy day in Manarola, which made it less of a shame to take my departure. After picking up some fruit at the Coop (which is both more expensive than and lower quality to the little grocery right at the foot of the Riomaggiore hill), I bought what I thought was a direct train ticket to Pisa. After a little mixup when my train pulled into storage before we reached Pisa, I hopped on another train to Pisa Centrale, only one more stop away. It was rainy there too, and after waiting about 3 decades to use the [View Full Entry]

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After waking up to my first non-rainy day in Cinque Terre, I had my breakfast overlooking the town of Riomaggiore and its tiny port before catching a train to Santa Margherita, a ritzy port town about an hour northwest of Cinque Terre. After picking up a map at the tourist office, I walked the 5km to Portofino, which was part seaside walkway/part manicured trail. Complete with ornate light posts and a brick walkway, the trail was about the least rugged stroll along a hill I’ve ever encountered. The weather was gorgeous and I arrived in Portofino around 1 in the afternoon, [View Full Entry]

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I got an early start, eager to hit the 9K, 5 hour trail that connects all 5 villages of Cinque Terre. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs, so I delayed my departure in the hostel canteen with a cup of yogurt and the worst cappuccino I’ve had in Italy. It was still sprinkling when I set off for Riomaggiore, the Eastern-most village. The walk there is the easiest, and I later found out that most people take the train to Monterosso, the Western-most village to start, since the first two treks are the most grueling. Since I was planning to [View Full Entry]

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After checking out, we caught the quick train to Manarola, where my hostel and home for the next 3 nights, Ostello Cinque Terre, awaited us. Manarola is the smallest, and most quiet of the 5 towns, and therefore just what the doctor (Larkin) ordered. I prefer small, less crowded (and less touristy!) towns to big crowded cities, as a general rule. After checking in (the staff proved very friendly and helpful), we had cappuccinos and pastries at the little bar at the base of the hill, directly opposite the tunnel from the train station. From there, we walked down to where [View Full Entry]

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Miraculously, I woke up on my own at 9:00, minutes before Steph’s alarm was due to ensure our on time arrival at Firenze SMN for our mid-morning train to Monterosso. Still more miraculous was that I wasn’t hungover through my toenails and able to stomach daylight, let alone the 2.5 hr train ride and layover in Pisa. To say that Cinque Terre is mind-blowing would be an understatement by far. It is ridiculously and incredibly breathtaking, to all the senses. The clifftop views through the lush floral and fauna overgrowth, and rows of olive and lemon trees, are stunning; the brigh [View Full Entry]

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Reunited with Little Nugget.. [View Full Entry]

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Who says the sun doesn't shine in Ireland? [View Full Entry]

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