Acid reflux sucks, but Cinque Terre is amazing.
Saturday morning, Bevin and I decided to catch the 8:12 train to start our trek out to Cinque Terre. We decided to do this both because it takes a long time to get out to Cinque Terre (*grumble*Italian train system*grumble*), and because we wanted to attach ourselves to Mark and Dana (opera scenes stage and music directors, respectively), because Mark had been to Cinque Terre before. Always better to follow someone who knows what they are doing, that is what I always say.
In the Lucca train station, we ran into Michael and Stephanie, two solisti singers who were going out to Cinque Terre as well, and they joined our group. Later, on the train to Pisa, we ran into Dean (who just got to the program after being a Gerdine Young Artist with OTSL this summer, randomness) and Tana, two other solisti singers who had the same plan. So our group grew to 8.
When we got to La Spezia, we caught a regional train that runs between the 5 cities of Cinque Terre (hence the name), and decided to get off at Corniglia and hike to the next city, Vernazza.
We hiked 6 kilometers, straight up the cliff side.
Then we hiked another 6 kilometers, straight back down and into Vernazza.
All told, we probably hiked about 14 km (figuring additional hiking that we did not figured into the two 6 km numbers).
It was MAJORLY intense. And absolutely gorgeous. Today I would just like to detach my legs from my body, but I tell you what, nothing makes you appreciate diving into the ocean more than a 3 hour mountain hike. And MAN was it breathtakingly beautiful in Vernazza.
When we walked into Vernazza, we ran into Brent, yet another solisiti singer who had trekked to Vernazza from Monterosso by himself that morning (after missing the people he was supposed to go to Cinque Terre with), in hopes of running into someone he knew. Which he clearly did.
After we FINALLY ate (well, I sort of ate, since I can basically eat nothing in Italy anymore, thankyouverymuchacidreflux), Tana decided to go to Genoa while Stephanie, Brent, and Michael decided to head to one city past Monterosso, which is out of Cinque Terre proper and thus less touristed, but just as beautiful...but Bevin and I decided to head home as we were both dead tired (Bevin hadn't planned on a hike that day...nor had I planned for such an intense one...). So Dana, Mark, Dean, Bevin, and I started heading home at 6:45.
The train to La Spezia was PACKED. We were crammed onto it like sardines, which was delightful seeing as everyone on board had spent the day hiking and beaching it up. But just as the doors were closing, another three people jumped into our car--and one of them happened to have a Cardinals cap on. So of course I had to blurt out, 'St. Louis?!'....It wound up that he had gone to WashU, so we bonded between Vernazza and Riomaggiore, discussing the benefits of cheap housing and the like in St. Louis.
Random.
We wound up running into a bunch of Studio singers in the train station in La Spezia, and we all finally got back to Lucca around 10:30. It was quite an adventure.
Cinque Terre is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever been. The water is blue blue blue, and terraced cliffs rise straight out of it, with brightly colored towns clinging desperately to them. It is awe-inspiring and pictures do not do it justice.
But you better believe I took a ton anyway. I will try to get some up asap, but not all of them, because I am having trouble rotating the pictures.
I LOVE ITALY.
*ciao*
Saturday morning, Bevin and I decided to catch the 8:12 train to start our trek out to Cinque Terre. We decided to do this both because it takes a long time to get out to Cinque Terre (*grumble*Italian train system*grumble*), and because we wanted to attach ourselves to Mark and Dana (opera scenes stage and music directors, respectively), because Mark had been to Cinque Terre before. Always better to follow someone who knows what they are doing, that is what I always say.
In the Lucca train station, we ran into Michael and Stephanie, two solisti singers who were going out to Cinque Terre as well, and they joined our group. Later, on the train to Pisa, we ran into Dean (who just got to the program after being a Gerdine Young Artist with OTSL this summer, randomness) and Tana, two other solisti singers who had the same plan. So our group grew to 8.
When we got to La Spezia, we caught a regional train that runs between the 5 cities of Cinque Terre (hence the name), and decided to get off at Corniglia and hike to the next city, Vernazza.
We hiked 6 kilometers, straight up the cliff side.
Then we hiked another 6 kilometers, straight back down and into Vernazza.
All told, we probably hiked about 14 km (figuring additional hiking that we did not figured into the two 6 km numbers).
It was MAJORLY intense. And absolutely gorgeous. Today I would just like to detach my legs from my body, but I tell you what, nothing makes you appreciate diving into the ocean more than a 3 hour mountain hike. And MAN was it breathtakingly beautiful in Vernazza.
When we walked into Vernazza, we ran into Brent, yet another solisiti singer who had trekked to Vernazza from Monterosso by himself that morning (after missing the people he was supposed to go to Cinque Terre with), in hopes of running into someone he knew. Which he clearly did.
After we FINALLY ate (well, I sort of ate, since I can basically eat nothing in Italy anymore, thankyouverymuchacidreflux), Tana decided to go to Genoa while Stephanie, Brent, and Michael decided to head to one city past Monterosso, which is out of Cinque Terre proper and thus less touristed, but just as beautiful...but Bevin and I decided to head home as we were both dead tired (Bevin hadn't planned on a hike that day...nor had I planned for such an intense one...). So Dana, Mark, Dean, Bevin, and I started heading home at 6:45.
The train to La Spezia was PACKED. We were crammed onto it like sardines, which was delightful seeing as everyone on board had spent the day hiking and beaching it up. But just as the doors were closing, another three people jumped into our car--and one of them happened to have a Cardinals cap on. So of course I had to blurt out, 'St. Louis?!'....It wound up that he had gone to WashU, so we bonded between Vernazza and Riomaggiore, discussing the benefits of cheap housing and the like in St. Louis.
Random.
We wound up running into a bunch of Studio singers in the train station in La Spezia, and we all finally got back to Lucca around 10:30. It was quite an adventure.
Cinque Terre is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever been. The water is blue blue blue, and terraced cliffs rise straight out of it, with brightly colored towns clinging desperately to them. It is awe-inspiring and pictures do not do it justice.
But you better believe I took a ton anyway. I will try to get some up asap, but not all of them, because I am having trouble rotating the pictures.
I LOVE ITALY.
*ciao*
4 Comments:
So jealous. The most exciting thing I've seen this weekend has been a Red Lobster in South County...which is kind of fancy....right?
I am counting down the days til you get back! and I want to see lots of pictures!
Miss you! Love you!
Dear Amy,
Our couch thing fell through. Will explain later.
Also, for acid reflux--since you can't get your hands on any Nexium while you're there. You should take antacids before going to bed, since that's the time when your voice is the most vulnerable. Actually, after every meal and before bedtime. See if you can find some at the store!!! if not, you can always mix baking soda with water.
See you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEBBO
Dear Sebbo, I have crazy Italian drugs for curing my acido-y stomach. Thank you for the advice. I miss you my pet!
Dear Chris, you crack my shit up.
love,
Amy
Hey,
Ma and Pa in Carmel
Oolala
One love
Big Daddy
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