After hiking through the Swiss Alps, we decided a little relaxation was in order...after all, we were on vacation! We decided that the Italian Riviera was the best choice so from Zermatt we grabbed a train which took us down to the Mediterranean. Our first stop was Monterosso al Mare, one of the 5 villages of Cinque Terre. It was SUPER packed and WAY more touristy than we expected (or really liked, for that matter). We still took the opportunity to hike the Cinque Terre trail - the 8 mile (with 3000 feet of elevation gain/loss) trail that connects the 5 towns. After Cinque Terre, we took a train up the coast to a much more sedate (and more our speed) resort town of Sestri Levante. Our hotel was a castle (with a private beach, of course) and the town was far more enjoyable than Monterosso al Mare. Just prior to our departure, we met Brian's parents in Geneva.
The scenic view from our hotel in Monterosso al Mare Not quite as grandiose as our views in Switzerland
The tight streets of Italy
The beach at Monterosso al Mare On a busy Sunday afternoon the beach (and the town) was packed
The beach clears out a bit as the shade approaches
Looking down the coastline of Cinque Terre
Looking over to the other beach of Monterosso al Mare
Brian and Lisa
The Giant of Monterosso Al Mare
Monterosso Al Mare
Monterosso Al Mare The church in the distance was built in the 13th century
Monterosso Al Mare
Monterosso Al Mare
Monterosso Al Mare
Starting down the Cinque Terre trail to Vernazza
Looking up at the terraced vineyards above the trail
The narrow Cinque Terra trail between Monterosso and Vernazza
Lisa snaps a photo of this creepy looking spider
Looking back on Monterosso al Mare
Looking southwest to the remaining 4 towns of Cinque Terre
Vernazza
Olives
Vernazza
The train tunnel leading to Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernazza
Looking down on Corniglia
The path as it winds through the terraces in Corniglia
Manarola, the next town down the trail
Looking back at the coast at Corniglia
Manarola
Manarola
Via Dell'Amore - the last section of trail Many lovers had placed locks (...frequently sold by the nearby souvenir shops) along the path to show their love....oh - and lots of graffiti too
Via Dell'Amore and Lisa
Lisa and Brian
Via Dell'Amore
Riomaggiore, the last town along the Cinque Terre path
Riomaggiore The entire trail was 8 miles long with over 3000 feet of elevation gain...not as bad as Switzerland, but it was WAY warmer!
Manarola
Monterosso al Mare
Cooling our feet in the Mediterranean
Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth in Sestri Levante
The quiet Baia del Silenzio of Sestri Levante
The remains of a church bombed by the US in 1944
Looking out over Sestri Levante from our hotel
Our hotel...a castle
The private beach of our hotel, Grand Hotel Dei Castelli The beach continued around the rocky promontory on the left
A view of the beach from up on the hill
The main beach of Sestri Levante
Some weird berry
One of Guglielmo Marconi's towers used in his early radio experiments
The rocky coastline
Our window(s) on the second floor
Taking the elevator down to the street
The other part of the castle hotel
An old abbey outside of the hotel
Sestri Levante
Baia del Silenzio
Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth
Sunset in Sestri Levante Our hotel is up on the hill (cleverly labeled HOTEL)
Sunset in Sestri Levante
Sunset in Sestri Levante
Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth
The cave that lead from the street level to the elevator up four stories to our castle...cool, huh?
An unannounced visitor to our room...
Brian, greeting the unannounced visitor in the traditional way of trying to poke it with a stick
Jay, Joan, Lisa, and Brian in Geneva We met my parents in Geneva before flying home
Geneva...a fairly dull city especially when cloudy
Brian, Lisa, and Joan
Lisa and Brian walking through the market
Cathédrale Saint Pierre This was the adopted home church of John Calvin and dates back to the 8th century
Cathédrale Saint Pierre
Cathédrale Saint Pierre
Lisa, Brian, and Jay
Lisa and Brian Geneva, of course, is known for its watches...Rolex, Patek Philippe, TAG Heuer, and...well...Swatch
Geneva also has a huge fountain...not really sure why...but it does. And this is the city's most famous landmark. The Jet d"Eau sends water up 500 feet
