Hiking through Cinque Terre

Hiking through Cinque Terre was definitely an experience that I will never forget. Not only was it one of the most beautiful places I have ever been but the actual hike itself was quite a challenge. We started at the little town of Riomaggiore and hiked about 30 minutes along Via dell'Amore to Manarola. The next stretch was about an hour to the town of Corniglia. It was really quaint and had a comfortable charm to it. Unfortunately not many of the stores were open since this isn't tourist season. This was good though because the trails were not crowded and we could really take our time and enjoy the scenery. The next stretch was about 1 1/2 hours to Vernazza. We hiked through some beautiful olive tree groves, it was almost like a fairy tale. This part of the hike was a bit more strenuous with the amount of stairs and hills but we made it. The last stretch which was
about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long was definitely the hardest and by the end of the hike everyone felt like they could just break. The last stretch to Monterosso al Mare although very challenging straight up and down, was well worth the hike. The jewel toned water and cliff side villages gave a whole new perspective on life. Everyone lives so differently here, it is a much more relaxed and simple way of life. I wouldn't have missed this opportunity for anything, and seeing this magnificent area has truly been an experience I will never forget.