Cinque Terre, or fifty calories from paradise

Cinque Terre in Italy is simply the most beautiful place on earth. Yes, there are tourists here, but not as many as you would think would be in the most beautiful place on earth. 

Just a short train ride south from Genoa, and we’re in this Mediterranean paradise with no cars, terraced gardens, warm water, streets paved with gelato…. It’s a series of villages connected by train and hiking trails of varying difficulties. Actually an Italian national park, these towns are snapshots of the past. We’re in Riomaggiore for two nights but will be backpacking to another city as we head north on Sunday.

It’s definitely busy down by the water, but all it takes is a bit of sweat equity to hike into the hills and you’re alone amongst terraced lemon trees and grape vineyards, above all the chaos below. Once the sun goes down it’s a very manageable crowd and the town is a quiet, intimate, isolated cove.
Pix related.