Cinque Terra

Vernazza town 2 of 5

The Cinque Terra is five small towns along the coast of Northern Italy, most tour guides and travel books will suggest that you visit here, walking or taking the train from town to town, enjoying the old world life, the great outdoors, and the swimming holes.  However, I would NOT suggest that you do this particular trip.  Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful area, and for the amount of food I have been eating, the walk would probably be very good for me.  But the crowds of tourist out-way the beauty of the place, the "little" towns seem tiny when thousands of visitors are shoulder to shoulder in the streets, taking pictures every five feet, and waiting in lines for everything: lunch, the train, postcards, the toilette ... A little overwhelming for "vacation"

Corniglia town 3 of 5

Overlooking La Spezia

I visited the Cinque Terra for only one day, (had not done my research and wasn't prepared) I got a taste of the area, but for me it was all I needed.  If you are interested in visiting, Do It Right and Be Prepared!  Explore the five towns over two or three days, bring a bathing suit, and remember, if you are going during summer months (even into September) it is going to be HOT!!!! (real hot) Plan a leisurely day walking from just one town to the next, instead of trying to see them all at once.  If you are traveling to more than one of the towns, get the all day pass or else each step of the way (literally they charge you to walk) will cost you.  

Perfect Swimming Hole!

Looking back through the pictures, I recognize the beauty, but while I was there, I just couldn't take the heat/crowds/"paying for everything feeling" and overall I wasn't impressed.  The people in the picture above had the right game plan, take it slow, spend more time swimming, and less time sightseeing!