Five Cities by the Sea

My latest adventure found me in Cinque Terre, Italy, five magnificent towns carved out of earth and sea.  Cinque Terre means Five Lands, and it lives up to its name.  Each town is remarkable in its own regard.  Each one is different from the rest, and all five come together to create a magnificent oceanside tapestry.  Every city begins at the bottom of a hill on a beautiful, sunny beach and climbs uphill, where you will find corner stores with fresh fruit, trattorias, bars and high-rise hotels.

Since 1998 the Italian Ministry for the Environment has been taking action to preserve this spectacle that is Cinque Terre.  Italy has created the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre to preserve the cities, the coast and their wildlife from pollution and other forms of destruction.

The small towns, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, are connected by a hiking trail that anyone can handle.  You do not need to be in shape to complete this venture (Look at ME!  I did just fine)  It's a great walk and you will meet all sorts of people along the way (we ran into a group of American girls studying in Rome).

There is a 5-Euro entry fee to walk among the towns, but don't fret: IT'S ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT.  

The crown jewel of this hike is what I call the Tunnel of Love, a tunnel carved out of rock that resembles a medieval cliffside fortification.  On the walls of this tunnel is a stunning display of graffiti murals of every shape and color.  This is not your typical graffiti; these masterpieces reflect the wonders of nature and the human imagination.  People have added to the amazing collection over time, adding to the splendor of the rocky visage.  At the end of the tunnel is a plaque paying tribute to The Beatles that reads:

 And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

  
My buddy Charlie and I spent lots of time in there, marveling at the varieties of art and inspiration.  I took pictures of every one of the tunnel's wonders because it is something that I never want to forget.