A quick stop in Monterosso
The gelato is intensely flavourful. Sweet, tart and fresh. It is a deep red colour, like perfectly ripe raspberries. Wow. I gently scrape another slushie mound on my tiny plastic spoon. The second bite is even better. Raspberry is my new favourite flavour.
I look out at the turquoise bay. Behind me are pastel buildings clustered up the side of a cliff. My huge backpack is beside me.
Our stop at Monterrosso was so brief we did not even stash our packs at the train station. We took a short hike along the coast, overlooking rugged cliffs and turquoise coves. Sometimes the path hugged the coastline with the rocky shoreline beside us. Other times the dirt path was on top of the cliffs, with expansive views of the hills, olive groves, terraced vineyards and the sparkling sea.
That evening, I wrote in my journal that it would be neat to hike between all five villages. The five villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso) in the Cinque Terre National Park can be explored by hiking, train or sea.
I added Cinque Terre to my list of Places to Come Back to at the back of my journal. It was my fourth entry. I tracked a list of places I wanted to return to someday. Most recommendations were shared with me from travellers I met.
Cinque Terre was my addition. I knew a return visit was essential. Our visit to Cinque Terre was far too quick.
It was memorable though. Raspberry gelato is still my favourite.
This is one entry from my 1992 European backpacking trip with my friend Sarah. If you want to start at the beginning, please check out The journey starts in Nice.
