Since we left our wondrous hostel with FREE! wireless I haven’t had any opportunity to update or return emails because email in Venice is 2,50 euro for 15 minutes! By now most of you have received a postcard (hopefully) or one is on its way. Unfortunately unless I find a manner in which to mail them for less than 1$ a piece you’ll just have to think of my updates as postcards in the future. Plus it would take about as long for you to receive them as the time left till we get back!.
Italy is treating us well. Florence and Venice have been beautiful, decent but cold weather and lots to see and do. But Cinque Terre was the highlight of our Italy adventure! The weather was unbeatable. Sunny, 10 degrees celsius in the morning and up to 16 when the sun was at its highest. We climbed the mountains along the trails of Cinque Terre National Park and walked upon cliffs overhanging the Mediterranean. I took loads of pictures which should be uploaded along with this post sometime in the nearish future. (It’s January 25th as I write this) I think the images will describe the beauty better than I can, but it was literally breathtaking. We got off the train in Riomaggiore, the first of the five(cinque) towns (terre) on our hike, and where we stayed in a great apartment with kitchen, living room and its own bathroom for only 40 euro! Stepping from the train the sea splayed out before us in colors I’d only seen in pamphlets and Crayola boxes. I ran to the concrete wall and leaned over taking in the smell of the sea air, the sun beating down and the sound of waves crashing below as the train chugged off through the tunnels carved in the mountain. Everything in Europe has been a wonderful experience, but this is the reason for a trip like this… the lump forming in my throat and the smile taking over my face and being completely speechless and consumed by the sheer beauty and perfection.
The five towns are built into the hills on little coves in the Mediterannian. Everywhere are stairs and hills and tunnels for getting through the mountains and to the next destination. Roads and hiking trails snake through the mountain tops from village to village along with the vineyards and olive groves. From what I understand the towns were built long ago by farmers who fished and grew grapes and olives. They built their crops into the side of the mountains using a system of terraces or large wide steps. The towns have since been claimed as a national park and the money charged to hike the trails goes towards maintaining the terraces and the ocean which is a protected area and bans most boats. As we climbed through the mountains and the vineyards covered in sweat we wondered what life is like for the people who must pick all the grapes in the heat of the growing seasons. Or how elderly people fare in the towns that require climbing no less than 50 steep stairs just to reach the first level of homes or the Church located at the highest point hundreds of stairs like ladders later.
Tonight we leave for Munich where we look forward to beer, wurst, brat, and all types of meat product, but not before consuming a last Gelato and slice of pizza. Hopefully I will post this while in Munich for the next couple days.
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