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Today was the day we did the hike. After filling up on free pastries and juice, provided by our hotel, we started the hike from the Riomagiorre train station. The first section of the path is a paved path, and very picturesque. It is called the Via Della Amour, and is filled with locks that have been put there by couples pledging their eternal love to each other. The keys are then thrown in the ocean.
We arrived in Manarola (the second city), knowing that the path between this city and Cornish was still not repaired from the landslide last October. So we decided to hike the detour (it was a 2.5 hour detour and up over the city!!!). We weren't sure if we could, but we made it to the city at the highest point of the detour and I needed the bathroom, so I asked a guy at a store and he said I could use his. I felt like I was walking into his house (it was the only available one in the city) so I thanked him and left promptly, not wanting to intrude on his lunch. Robyn and Genny both decided to use the washroom so I sent them to the same guy, and Genny started chatting with him. His name is Carlo and he works at the winery. He was very nice, letting us sample the Cinque Terre wine and showing us around the cellar.
After touring the vineyards we were finally back en route towards Corniglia. The rest of the way was downhill :). We also promised Teree gelato at the next stop, so we charged ahead. What would have taken an hour if the path had been open, turned into a 4 hour detour. Happy to have made it to city #3, we grabbed a gelato and some more water. We were finally back on the Cinque Terre path at 4:45pm (we left Riomagiorre at 11am).
The 4th city, Vernazza, is the prettiest with a very nice beach. We challenged Robyn that if we could get there in an hour (which was supposed to be 1.5 hours) she could go swimming. We took 1 hour and 10 minutes, so we dipped out feet in the water instead, knee brace and all (she did her best, but the stairs were steep).
Still having the longest leg ahead of us, and fighting the sunset, we set out quickly to Monterosso. The goal this time was to make it there before the sunset, if we did we'd get pasta. We did, and we did. Teree and I finally got our pesto dish (none for Robyn) and it was delicious.
In summary, today we did a hike for 9 hours (including wine, gelato & bathroom breaks), we walked 15km (it was like the Grouse Grind 5 times over) and only got lost for 5 minutes, no one pushed anyone off the path, Robbie got sunburned on one side, Teree met with the locals (he was wearing nude coloured underwear), Carla had 4L of water (and needed a potty break in every city) and we met Carlo. We left Monterosso relatively unscaved, and headed back to Riomagiorre by train (which takes 20 minutes as opposed to the 9 hour hike) for wine. Everyone should be sleeping well tonight.
One thing we have noticed along the way is that number of Canadians we have met along the way, especially from Vancouver.
We've decided that tomorrow will be our relaxing day, beaches and wine.....
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