First Steps on the Cinque Terre Trail

9:13 AM

Good morning. A kind, elderly woman prepares our breakfast. We start the day with cake on an empty stomach—well, Italy.

It’s only a short walk, about 15 minutes, to Viareggio station. We make our way through the charming, narrow streets. The streets are lined with orange trees. Everything is in bloom—without a doubt the most beautiful time of year. Now we just need a bit of sunshine…

On to Sestri Levante!

11:17 AM

At 11:15 we arrive in Sestri Levante—our starting point for the Cinque Terre. It’s still a bit chilly, but hopefully the sun will break through soon. We’re excited, because after three days in the car and two hours on the train, you really want to stretch your legs.

11:37 AM

Narrow shopping streets, packed with people. Uh-oh—what now? The terraces are overflowing. Vendors stand in the doorways of small, charming shops, trying to lure you inside.

11:38 AM

Peace—we want peace, so we start the climb out of the village. It’s immediately quite a workout, and step by step we work our way upward. The trail is pretty busy too. Walking faster or slower doesn’t help; it’s best to just go with the flow—it is Easter Monday, after all.

11:52 AM

12:03 PM

12:29 PM

1:22 PM

1:39 PM

We arrive just in time in a small village and settle down at a little pizzeria. The kitchen is about to close, so we’re allowed to order something—but pizza only, no other dishes. 😪

Luckily that’s no problem at all, because pizza in Italy is so wonderfully thin and flavorful that we devour it in no time.

4:12 PM

4:18 PM

4:55 PM

6:14 PM

We’ve reached our bed for tonight. We pop into a small supermarket to make our own ensalada de atún, with a baguette and some gorgonzola. We’re too tired to go out for dinner and collapse, satisfied, onto our bed. Until tomorrow! 🌙