When I first discovered Cinque Terre in 2007, after several days spent in Monterosso under the Mediterranean sun, I was ready for a hike, 12 kilometers to be exact. I took the train to Riomagiorre at the opposite end and my journey began.
I fell in love with Manarola, set so enchantingly upon the sea. (How could you not?)
I became taken with each village and it’s views. Within the Cinque Terre a new world unfolded and I found myself thinking about the lives of these people so isolated from the rest of the world. How inhaling the sky and the sea was part of their daily ritual. I continued on my path, climbing up the steep steps and down again. Corniglia soon became my vista.
When I reached Vernazza I was not only physically spent from the hours of hiking but was in need of a little time to reflect. And a glass of local wine. The sun was setting, and I joined the many stray cats lounging on the rocks for the most spectacular natural light show. (Incidentally, I had heard that the hike back to Monterosso was the toughest part of the trail.)
I was not meant to finish that hike. It wasn’t the right time. (And I’m a firm believer in timing.)
Until now. My Italian and I ventured via train to Vernazza, beneath a temperamental sky, to brave the trail I had left untraveled. The views were even more breath-taking than I had remembered.
Between intermittent rays of sun and rain with barely a soul in sight, we followed the steep 3.5 kilometer path, laughing, singing (not a talent I possess) and a little story-telling. We slowly made our way to what I consider the most beautiful panorama of all.
Home. Journey complete.
Love the story you created around these photos and glad you finally made the rest of the trip!
There was a reason I left that last hike for a rainy day 😉
Beautiful photo essay and love that you went back to finish!
Thanks Andi! It’s all part of the journey.
[…] her Italian in the Cinque Terre region of Italy preparing for her impending wedding. In “journey complete” she shares a beautiful photo essay about the completion of a hike she has started n […]
Thanks for this beautiful look into the Cinque Terre. It made me feel wistful, nostalgic, and a little hungry for the amazing foccacia in Vernazza.
Lovely story… and stunning pictures!
Cinque Terre is on my list since already a long time…
Nice story–so beautiful there!
I just sighed out loud a record eight times in one posting!
What a lovely story, from start to finish.
When does the movie come out and will Julia Roberts play you?
Here’s a ninth to go along with Sweet Freak’s: *le sigh* I’m with the others, too, who wrote that they appreciated the sense of coming full-circle, and completing the journey. Very cool. 🙂
Cinque Terre is definitely sigh worthy! It’s incredible how life guides us to complete the journey.
Stunning photos. I’m inspired to take a trip there myself.
You MUST take a trip to Cinque Terre! I will help you organize it 😉 The Ligurian cuisine alone is worth it!
What fun it is to read your post and look at your photos. We clearly took shots from the same spots. Amazing part of the world, isn’t it? I loved my time there. Here’s a link to my post on Cinque Terre. I think we stood in the same glorious spaces. Lucky us!
http://www.designdestinations.org/2010/11/cinque-terre-absolutely-glorious/
Great photos and post! Such a special part of the world. Hope you return again soon!
I’m so glad to have found your blog! I’ve been wanting to go back to visit Italy for so long now and that desire seems to grow by the day. I love how you wrote out this post.. I could just picture the hike, the glass of wine with the cats.
[…] ones in Matt’s post on the Bo Kaap neighborhood in Cape Town, they remind me of Burano and Kasia’s beloved Cinque Terre and some of the new spots I am collecting on my Colors that Inspire Travel Wanderlist on AFAR, I […]
[…] her Italian in the Cinque Terre region of Italy preparing for her impending wedding. In “journey complete” she shares a beautiful photo essay about the completion of a hike she has started n […]