Corniglia--Vernazza

So, what people do in Cinque Terre is the hike between the five cities.  That is what makes this area so gorgeous: it is a national park and not completely developed as other beaches in this part of Italy.  So, it is quite green and beautiful and the cities are small (I asked: about 500 people live in Manarola, where we are staying, when it is not completely taken over by tourists!).  Some parts of the trail were closed, but we took the train from Manarola to Corniglia and decided to hike the Corniglia-Vernazza part of the trail.  It said 4km and I thought--easy!  I walk 5 on a daily basis.  Hum, the trail was designed by goats and with the heat and no shade, it did take us the 1.5hrs they said the 4 km would take--or perhaps more.   But the views were gorgeous.

I do have to show these pictures in a large size!  Just saying.

We ended the day recovering at this beach at the bottom, in Vernazza, before taking the train back!  Gorgeous.