Cinque Terre, *sigh*

Old Town Dubrovnik port. Island of Lokrum in background.

One last Dubrovnik pic update.



(Cinque Terre):

After the trip to Venice, I took the train to Riomaggiore. This is one of five small towns that comprise the Cinque Terre. Stone foundations and walls terrace up the mountainside; all of these were hand placed without mortar. The five towns are connected by a hiking trail that typically takes about 4.5 hours, but one of the trails fell subject to a landslide and the detour trail adds approximately 1.5 more hours, unless you take the shuttle between two of the towns as suggested, but since when am I someone who takes a suggestion.

Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre), Italy

The work to hike up the bluff rather than along the coast was well worth it once I could see the view. One of the trails is more like a light, quick stroll, but the others are a lot of up, down, and around the rocky terrain. The views from the top were amazing, and though it doesn't make for the most spectacular of pictures, the overcast days were welcomed protection from the sun. It was still crazy hot and I met a few nice people.

During the first half, I met a family that invited me to join them for lunch half way through. Super nice people from Massachusetts. At the end of the hike, none of us had a difficult time justifying a dip in the Sea or a gelato. The next day was a relaxed day checking out the towns and a very random run-in with some people I had met during the travels in Prague. Really strange but awesome. Leaned out my window in this one street town of five towns at just the time that Dylan walked by. Awesome when life works out so well. Dylan and Brittany were two people I spent a fair amount of time with in Prague. :)

Also in the Cinque Terre, I discovered figs. Why am I so behind on this? I eat everything...not beans, but still. I have a new favorite fruit.

View from the Sea, Corniglia (5 Terre)

They are so bizarre. From Riomaggiore, my trip took me to Bologna where I spent two days with Linda, an amazing, caring, little ball of positive energy that I met waiting for the train to Venice less than a week before.