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After a couple days in Milan, Kelli, Monica, and I decide to take a day trip to Cinque Terre. So Sunday morning we hop on our 6am train ride and arrive 4 hours later to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Cinque Terre consists of 5 different villages that are all connected by various trails along the coastline or through the mountains. We started off at the last village, Riomaggiore and hiked a good two hours passing through Manarola and Corniglia. The views were amazing, just look at the pictures! Well, along our hike we ran into a sign that said FREE BEACH THIS WAY. We were just planning on catching the train back to the first village, Monterosso al Mare which has the main public beach but you have to pay and it is very touristy and packed. So we thought what the hey? We've been doing some strenuous hiking and the ocean looked so inviting so we decided to check it out. Well the trail starts off by going straight down the side of a very steep hill...this was not a professionally made trail. I am not a very daring person and definitely not a
fan of heights so it took a bit of coaxing by the girls and some of my own to finally decide to go for it. There was rope on the first stretch but of course it ends so I have to scale the side of the hill grabbing on to plants and tree branches and hoping the ground doesn't slip out from under me and I go tumbling down the side of the rocky mountain. The next 15 minutes of my life were one of the most fearful I have ever experienced and although I made it and was quite proud of myself for not chickening out I wouldn't do it again! Especially since afterwards we found out there was a pedestrian and safe walking path to the beach! Anyways, we get to flatter ground and start following signs to the beach...the signs are interesting though. One says "naturist beach this way, no gays" . Hmmm, so we take a glance from afar and is that what we think we see? Yes...nakedness everywhere. A nude beach! Risking my life for this was worth it! Haha. So we finally made it to the beach which is very secluded, obviously, and absolutely
Cinque Terre
Kelli, me, Monicabeautiful (minus the bodies of old fat men)! We enjoyed our swim and sun nonetheless. We hung out at the beach for a few hours and did as the locals 😊 We then started to notice people coming from around the cove covered from head to toe in mud. Well, Kelli and I went to check it out and found a little stream coming down the side of the mountain, moistening the clay. We thought it only appropriate to paint tops back on instead of covering our entire bodies and I must say it did make my skin quite smooth especially after a dip in the Ligurian Sea! Unfortunately, we had to leave to catch our train so this time we took the actual trail back instead of the treacherous make-shift one. Although, this one wasn't along a steep side of a mountain it was still pretty creepy. It's an old train tunnel that has been abandoned since 1968. It was a very dark and damp 15 minute walk and glad I had two other people with me. Apparently, it wasn't a well known path because besides us I'd say we saw about 4 people pass through. We make it
though and hop on the train back to the first village to grab lunch. One of the best pizza's I've had in Italy...yummy yummy especially after a long day of hiking, swimming, and laying in the sun! As we were eating, Kelli notices a very interesting site. A giant man carved out of the mountain and which I come to find out is called, II Gigante. Pretty cool if I do say so myself 😊 This was absolutely one of the best experiences of my life and I am looking into getting a time-share in Cinque Terre if anyone is interested (404-803-7290) Wishing I was there now.......sigh.
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Brook
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Monterosso is where I stayed and I made friends with the old little gelato man who I talkd to every night!! Im in with the time share!!!!!!