CINQUE TERRE
"five lands"
Today we had a chance to explore the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre or Five Lands, Five hillside villages famously perched along a rugged portion of coast: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
Thankfully Mother Nature heard our pleas and the day was dry and even sunny in many sparkling moments.
The last time I was in this area I was 20 years old and staying a Mama Rosa's Youth Hostel drinking too much wine and scrambling down steep slopes. This day was a bit different.
Mom and I had a plan to see each of the villages and being on our own we were grateful for our train ticket and Rick Steve's Guide Book!
We did a great job navigating and managed to make it to all of the Villages and back in time to meet up with a small group for Happy Hour.
I loved our lunch stop of wine and a charcuterie platter in Manarola. My idea of the perfect meal in the perfect setting!
Mom counts that night as one of her favorites, hanging with our guide Stephaine and some of our favorite tour mates. I think she actually called it "clubbing" but I think we were in a wine and tapas shop. 😊
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All in all, Cinque Terre was an amazing stop full of food, fun, and friendship!
