I just returned from an amazing three week backpacking trip with my friend Elaine in Northern Italy. We flew into Venice, out of Rome, and hit some of the most amazing countryside in between the two! The jet lag is certainly in full effect right now, but I don't care, it was well worth it!
My favorite stop was definitely the Cinque Terre on the western coast of Italy.
"Cinque" translates to "five" in Italian, and "Terre" means "land". These five lands, or towns are connected by a path that is cut into the countryside right along the Ligurian Sea, and can also be accessed by a train that runs through each town. All five towns have their own charm and beauty to them.
We stayed in a hostel in Manarola that served organic food and was very energy efficient and eco-friendly (showers were limited to five minutes). The views were spectacular, the sea was such an amazingly beautiful blue hue, and the experience was unforgettable. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of towns from their daytime crowd to the nightlife experience. There was a certain hustle and bustle feel during the day, people getting their shopping done, running errands and such. But at night, the lights are dim, the chairs are all setup outside, the wine starts flowing, and the sounds of laughter and good times permeates the streets.
Some of my favorite things while on the trip: FOOD! The gelato is a must have. It is to be eaten as often as possible, preferably when the afternoon I-should-be-sleeping feeling starts to hit. In the Cinque Terre region, pesto is plentiful and bursting with flavor! Our hostel and served up some killer Gnocchi pasta with pesto. So good! In addition to the food, a favorite was also the fact that
we could pack it in or be as relaxed as we wanted! We really concentrated on perfecting The Stroll over the last few weeks. It was so nice to have the freedom to just sit, people watch, and walk the streets of the Italian towns.A few of the things I missed while in Italy: Free toilets, my bed, free e mail access, Peanut Butter, and ice cubes. :)
I had a really wonderful time of reflection while on the trip, and the opportunity to while away to remember what is important to me and what things should be a priority in my life. And perhaps what things I should say no to in order to open up some space for myself to have a break once in a while.
Elaine and I certainly grew closer while living together and traveling for three weeks straight. She is an amazing person, and someone that I feel quite blessed and fortunate to have in my life. It was an honor to be able to be by her side and experience God's creation together. She is such an encouragement in my life, and I will miss our evening talks over a glass of vino rosso!
It's been a few days since I arrived in the States and I am very much still adjusting, but I would be happy to tell you more about my trip if you have questions or want to see more pics! I am so thankful that I was able to go on this trip, and it is something I will treasure in my heart for the rest of my life! 'Til next time!
JH
