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 Home / Indexes T r a v e l W r i t i n g  ItalyCinque Terre Walk by Paul Otteson Synopsis & Author Comment: While not exactly off the beaten path anymore, Italy's Cinque Terre (five lands) remains a rugged and beautiful region to explore on foot or by train. I walked this coastal stretch one hot July and was rewarded for my efforts with huge views, charming villages, and new friends. Lead Text: "Italy is hot in July. I looked at my backpack lurking in the dust -- an overstuffed sack of lead waiting to drag me down. Why on Earth was I carrying a goosedown parka and Goretex gaiters in this bone dry oven? I should have had "Embarrassed Idiot" tatooed on my forehead so people would know that the sweat-soaked pack mule stumbling by was self-aware. It had been a day of hot trains, a hot bus, and a hot stroll through not-so-hot Pisa for a "yeah, big deal" glimpse of the leaning tower. I had finally reached the charming town of Portovenere and the cool, blue Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the hot wind blew off the land and a midday climb lay ahead. The Cinque Terre stretched away northward -- and upward. That was my destination; Rick Steves said it was nice..." |
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