Cinque Terre

Just as the cold and foggy autumn time started to break in to Switzerland, we headed off for a short holiday (or a long weekend ?) to a Cinque Terre, Italy... although not too far from Zurich (about 5 hrs driving), here was still wonderful summer weather, 30+ C and lots of sunshine.

It’s easy to fall in love with Cinque Terre. It’s a line of 5 small towns that are along the eastern coast of Italy. In this area, traveling by car is the most impractical way to get around. The best way to transport yourself is by Train, or Boat, or Foot. We tried all three of them.

First day we started to explore the area by taking a boat trip along the cost, leaving from La Spezia, where our hotel was located. Truly wonderful scenery, and gorgeous villages! Will let the photos speak for themselves, as it is difficult to describe with words.

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

For the second day we had big plans. We headed out reasonably early (well, 9:30 is early enough on a holiday, isn't it?) and took the train to Monterosso al Mare, the first city if traveling from the north:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

... and started the Cinque Terre hiking tour:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

............ to Vernazza:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

........ to Corniglia:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

...... to Manarola:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

... and finally, through the Via Dell'Amore, to Riomaggiore....

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

We found Cinque Terre one of the most delightful areas we've ever been to and we can fully appreciate why this region has been listed as a World Heritage Site. Almost unbelievable what did native people build in this area. Lots of stones have been used to build the vineyards and the thousands of km-long stone structures to prevent erosion.

The third day we took a less tourist-packed hiking route from Portovenere to Riomaggiore.
In Portovenere we visited the town and castle:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

Then we began our long hike. After being lost once and climbing a few thousand steps, we had magnificent views of the Ligurian coast:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

before descending down to Riomaggiore.

All along our hiking trips we were accompanied by our friend Gulliver who got his own backpack to carry his own stuff.

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

Cinque Terre is magical! Make it a destination sometime in your life. We can highly recommend it.
See our entire photo album on Cinque Terre here .

On our last day of our mini-vacation, we visited Genoa as well, where the city is dominated by magnificent historical buildings and the omnipresent scooters:

From EUROPE - ITALY - Cinque Terre & Genoa

Via ferrata (Klettersteig) in Braunwald

sLast weekend we went rock climbing (Via ferrata) to Braunwald with some friends, namely Gabi, Salo + Ioana and us (unfortunately Gulliver was left out this time, but we are working on some climbing harness for him to be able to join us next time).
The group posing in front of the TARGET


The climb comprised 2 stages:
- An "easy" first stage to "Leiteregg" at 2310m altitude

Salo's @ss on the way to the first peak on the "easy" climb:


which was just a great warm-up for what was about to be

- Stage 2 to the "Vorder Eggstock"at 2449m


me f@rting on the way to the "Vorder Eggstock"...


completing the construction on the peak:


"highway" between two peaks:


finally taking off our helmets for a shot on said further peak "Mittler Eggstock"


after which we had to go down (the worst part, I don't like to go down!!)


all pictures on picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/gulliver.gyenge/Braunwald#

Summer visit from LILI

This summer Lili was our guest for a few weeks, bringing us some moments of joy.
We don't really know how come she turned up at our place suddenly.
She quickly found herself a comfortable place on our balcony.


When the sun was shining she fully enjoyed the sunny spots:


and the food she got mornings from Zoli:

However, as suddenly as she showed up at our place, just as sudden she left us a few weeks later.

(We've been told her owners left for vacation and apparently she liked us more then her temporary caretakers).