The best part about staying at a bed and breakfast is the breakfast.  Arin finally got to eat real cereal with milk, and we both had ham, cheese, and eggs.  Plus, we got to dine out in the garden - a beautiful little courtyard filled with flowers and lemon trees.  We needed to fill up, because we had a big day of hiking ahead of us.

Cinque Terre is made up of five villages which are all connected by hiking paths.  The first leg of our trip was Monterosso to Vernazza, the longest and most difficult trail.  We climbed hundreds of steps up through small vineyards and past the occasional house perched on a rocky outcropping.  The climb was worth it - we were greeted with spectacular views of the villages and sea below us, and the mountains above us. 

From Vernazza, we continued on a similar path to Corniglia.  While the second leg was a bit shorter, it seemed to involve just as much climbing - by the time we reached Corniglia, we were definitely ready for lunch and gelato!  

Unfortunately, the third leg of the trail was closed, so we hopped on the regional train for a few minutes to get to Manarola.  From there, we continued on a short, paved path along the sea known as "Via dell'Amore" - or "Lover's Lane" - to Riomaggiore.  We explored the town and rocky beaches for a bit before getting on a boat back to Monterosso.  Overall, it was a long day of hiking and sightseeing - we were happy to have a nice cool shower and comfortable bed waiting for us!