Can you believe we saw this view today? I've seen this view before...on my "Dream vacations" or "bucket list" Pinterest board. But, not only did we see it today, we worked for it. HARD.
Bender got up and ran the trail that we were planning to hike. It took him 42 minutes to do the same trail that was on our morning itinerary. Running. Danger Will Robinson. I am not Bender...as a matter of fact, I kind of think he's a freak of human nature ( and mean that in the most complimentary way possible!) - if it took Bender 42 minutes, AND he said it was hard more than once, I wasn't so sure I wanted to drag Z & Z along (mostly the second Z). But the kids were up for it, and if they were up for it, I certainly wasn't chickening out! So we got up and dressed and headed downstairs to the restaurant next door for breakfast.
I so enjoy the European way of doing breakfast. Bread, cheese, tomatoes, maybe some good ham. Throw in a pastry and a cappuccino and boom. We actually threw in a plate of strawberries too...feeling healthy this morning.
Nothing better than breakfast outside. It was especially nice to eat not in a cloud of cigarette smoke. Biggest pet peeve in Europe...so. Much. Smoke!
And well, they finished a meal, so it's ice cream time, right?
After breakfast we tackled some laundry. Here are the boys taking advantage of our line to dry our clothes.
That's our spot! (And so I don't forget, I love that Bender wore his Gator shirt today. While we were in Vernazza, wandered the streets, some guy walked by and said "go Gators." Without missing a beat, we all responded, "go Gators." Gator nation is everywhere!).
So onward and upward. And I really mean upward. I swear it was a million steep steps up that hill today. At least! But in the beginning, we looked good, and fit and ready.
View of Monterosso where we stayed and played the last two days.
We had to buy a Cinque Terre trail pass to do the hike. So many people there. I started thinking that Bender didn't have much faith in us....
I took at least as many pictures today as we did steps. Enjoy!
Family selfie! Don't fall. Poor kids. After Zoe and my trip down the stairs yesterday, I was a little nervous about all these crazy trails!
But we were a go for Vernazza!
So, on this skinny trail, around 1/3 of the way in (and about 600 steps up), we came upon a man and some jewelry. Seriously, I would have bought just about anything he was selling at that point...just for a little break. Luckily he had good stuff! Zoe got some shell earrings and I got a ring and a bracelet. He made the stuff. So cool!
Soon after that, it was time to start working out way down.
First peek at Vernazza, Cinque Terre's crown jewel!
Loved this string of locks. #lovewins always.
So this is actually not the first attempt at this picture. Bender convinced a fine Italian gentleman who understood very little of what we were saying to him, to climb a tree for a better angle on this picture. Another contender! Woot woot!
We knew we were close when Zoe started to hear the music. Pure joy.
We walked by this thing. This is the trolley. Seriously. They send people up the cliff on this thing. I am flabbergasted.
Z & Z had to thank these friends for the music. Certainly made the last chunk of the trail easier!
Vernazza!
This was our little outdoor lunch spot. 1.5 miles hiking uphill + wine is not the best combination, but it wasn't anything a little Caprese and pizza couldn't handle. And frizzy water! Can we get that in Florida? I am addicted!
View from our table.
After lunch it was time to explore a different town.
Obviously, we needed to sample their gelato. My frozen lemon was insanely yummy.
Then it was time to grab a ferry back to Monterosso...no way we were walking.
But not before we watched some crazies do some diving from the cliffs. I was so glad The Bender boys did not wear their suits.
We boarded our ferry,
and they pulled up the walkway and we were off.
A quick ten minute ride brought us back to Monterosso.
After our exhausting morning, the kids just wanted beach time and I didn't blame them. I actually left my phone charging in the room and went in the Mediterranean Sea (at least to my thighs). Zack and Bender did more cliff jumping and swam to the breakwater. Zoe did some stunting and training and collected sea glass. I might have taken a 20 minute nap. Look at all the glass we found! Grandma L, Zoe says if you were here you would have found twice as much.
Then, back to the apartment for some strength training and abs,
And a little soccer for the boys near the ocean.
Then, the plan was to head to do a little window shopping and eat dinner in new town. Except, we found this. With kids playing on it. So the boys tried to finagle Zack on the court.
Meanwhile, Zoe and I were dressed to impress (Pink Nickel label representing in Italy!)
I took her to ride this,
But Zack was still looking like a sad puppy in the corner of the court. He was so amazing. Even after they told him that there wasn't room, he kept at it.
Meanwhile, Zoe and I went to search for a table. Around 9:10 we found the restaurant we wanted to eat at. Around 9:30, someone looked at me long enough for me to hold up four fingers. Around 10, Zoe and I pulled up two extra chairs to a table. The boys showed up shortly thereafter. Turns out after the older boys left, Zack did find some friends to play with - including a boy from Canada whose father wanted to be Bender's best friend. Mr. Canada suggested we buy a pizza and eat it in our hotel for dinner. Bender told him he didn't think that suggestion would be a wise move. When the boys arrived, the hostess threw us a couple tablecloths and we set our own table. Zoe was already very silly.
More great local wine. We hiked past these vineyards today!!
Prosciutto and cheese for an app...
Bender had seafood pasta that the waiter tossed in the big bowl table side.
I had the most amazing gnocchi with pesto sauce. The gnocchi were enormous. This picture is awful, because it was now 11, and the lights in the alley were starting to turn off.
We've completed most of the Monterosso "things to do" during our short stay!
T. R. O. U. B. L. E. Limoncello and dessert wine with almond biscotti for dipping. Why is this not a thing in the U.S.? Why?
And because it was 11:30, and they wanted gelato, we sent them. With Euros. To order by themselves and make it back. They did. As a matter of fact, both kiddos seem to be adapting to Italian fairly well. Bender and I keep slipping into Spanish, especially After a glass of wine.
This was our bill. Love it
And this was how we closed out our night. Last one on our street. Goodnight Monterosso. We have so enjoyed our two days in Cinque Terre. It'll be sad to leave on our train tomorrow, but we are excited about Venice. Both kids are eager to see if they find sauce in Venice that is as good as Little Venice's!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Ciao from Cinque Terre!
XOXO, Benderz
No comments:
Post a Comment