Le Cinque terre...

One of the many views on todays journey

First off I would like to apologize for not updating my blog for the longest time...school is starting to get a little busy. So Cinque Terre time:

So today was a day trip with the class to Cinque Terre. Five cities on the west coast of Italy on the Mediterranean Sea. You can hike to each of the 5 towns. A total of 12km. Let's just say it was gorgeous. It made me want to get into hiking and live in Italy. The trail started at 5m above sea level, the highest point was 220m and it finished at 8m. There was 465m of climbing and 457m of descending. It was amazing all day with the sun out and it got up to around 68 degrees.

Walking next to the Mediterranean was amazing. I never thought I would ever do anything like that. I definitely took a crapload of pictures. If you ever come to Italy I recommend going to Cinque Terre and hiking the whole 12km. I didn't put on any suntan lotion as usual and got a nice sunburn on the right side of my neck which just looks hott.


Look Geo...pretty purple flowers

So we did the first leg of 4 with a group of about 10 or so. It took about 1.5 hrs and some people were complaining which was somewhat annoying at times. But it was definitely fun for me. We found a nice place to have lunch. The girls found a nice nature spot to go to the bathroom, two of them stepped in human shit and then smelled up the lunch table. Mmmmm delicious and nutritious. We got to the next city and rested for about 40 minutes or so on the rocks by the beach. We were going to go swimming because this was the city with the best beach! Ummm....no? Kinda sketchy, we'll stay away. I was getting antsy to continue on the hike so I wanted to get going.


Just beautiful!!!

All the girls didn't want to take the next leg of the trail so they decided to take the train to the next city and then walk the last two legs. LAME!!! They thought it wasn't going to be as good as the first leg and they didn't think there was time to do the 2nd leg and then the next 2 after that...well, they were wrong. My friend Dan and I decided to blaze through the 2nd leg. The tourist information said this leg would take about 1hr45min. It took us 48min! Oh yeah we rule...and that was with stops for some good pics.


My good friend Dan and I (look I finally got a haircut!!!)

We caught up with a couple other girls in the next town and they decided to join us for the last two sections. But first bathroom break. We found a nice cafe called CAFE MATTEO (yes I did get a pic of that with me in it, but it won't load so just check my facebook if you can...or I'll show it to you when I get home) and used the bathroom and got something to drink. One problem with the toliet. It was made into the ground. It was not a raised toliet. It was as high as the ground was. Good thing I didn't have to take a shit....but Dan did. I don't know how he did it...but he did his business.

Andiamo...The next section was not nearly as hard or strenuous as the first two. Not as much climbing. We got to the next town and there were some jagged rocks...so we decided to sit there for a while...about 45min-1hr. It was very relaxing. Sarah got in a nap, I took some pics, watched the girls from across the way strip down to their bikinis. We talked and got some sun...mostly on my right side. Time to go (and those girls thought we wouldn't have enough time?).


The Mediterranean on a gorgeous day...the view on the jagged rocks.

The last part of the trail was "Lover's Lane" (Via dell'amore). It was paved and was the easiest part of the trail. It was a nice last relaxing section though. But the legs felt good. I really want to start hiking more.

Overall, I think this was my favorite day trip out of all of them. No tours, no lectures, and no planned itinerary (other than when were leaving). I enjoy strenuous activities and the beautiful view was the icing on the cake.

Ok so as for riding my new bike....I HAVEN'T YET!!!! I'm dying to get it out there and try it. All I've done is ridden it to the shop and back. But what I have felt from it is intense speed and responsiveness. It honestly rides like a dream and is just gorgeous. I can't stop thinking about it. And this bike is staying clean. Thats why I haven't gone out the past few days...because its been crappy outside. But tomorrow I take it out. 70 and sunny :) But first I'm renting a moped with a couple friends and we're speeding over to Fiesole and Carmignano, or really wherever we want. I'll get back at around 2-2:30pm and get on that bike for about 4 hrs....thank you Day Light Savings (and Spring)!

But I'll have to get on the ball here. I have a crapload to do seeing that its the end of the program. Only two more weeks of class and then finals week. :( I have a 10 page myth paper due on the 19th, a travel journal due the 19th, an oral presentation on the 19th, an Italian composition about my childhood due the 13th. I get a take home final for Dante due the 24th, 2 performances for commedia dell'arte on the 18th and 20th, an Italian final on the 24th and a myth final on the 26th. I also have a race on the 25th. And as of right now I have to catch up on some myth reading. Sweet jesus. But hey when thats all done...my mom comes and I get to show her around for 2 weeks. And then I'll be home everyone, I can't wait to see all of you again...even though I'll be crying cuz I had to leave Italy :'(

This weekend I'll finish atleast 3/4 of my myth paper and hopefully my italian composition. I'll probably sit in Ari's Diner (an american diner with delicious food) with Kat and work on our papers. During this time I'm still going to get on my bike and get stronger for when I get home. Sounds like Baumann's training has been paying off...hopefully I'm able to stay up with him. lol. I better start working a little harder.

Ah and I registered for next semesters classes...I'm taking Nutri Sci 320 (an online class), Bact 303, Stats 371, Italian 102, and biking 295. Yes I am taking biking, I'm doing it with Geo, we are going to be the assholes who tear everyones legs off. Should be fun. I have only one class Mon, Wed, and Fri at 11:00am. And on Tues and Thurs I'm done at noon. Pretty nice if you ask me. I'll be able to go biking alot and get some hours in at the trek shop...and not feel too tired after a night at SAFEwalk.

Well, its time to get some reading done...I'll try and keep the updates coming. The next one will probably be on the new bike first ride...not gonna lie. Ciao ragazzi