Cinque Terre

 "The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky."   Margaret McMillan


Spring break 2013..... an outdoor adventure with Rachel.  Instead of meeting at the doors of our classroom on a Monday morning, we met on a train platform in Zug with backpacks loaded!  A few minutes to spare we shopped for journey food...  We laugh at the thoughts of Swiss Army survival chocolate -- "survival portion" quickly became an essential item that we just luckily found!  I admit that I'm a marketer's dream!

 3 hours from Zug to Milan---  change trains.... then 3 hour train from Milan to Montorosso, our first village stop in Cinque Terre..  A landslide over the weekend and instead of a walk to the hotel a wild taxi ride winding through switchback roads to arrive at our home for the next 4 nights..






Our hotel was a lovely little family owned hotel with lemon trees growing and a view from the terrace..

 The rugged terrain and the simple, quiet life --- we had stepped into another world and took deep breaths in awe...  We learned that the Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterosso , Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.  Our quest was to see all five of them.


We also learned that over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible corporate development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.

We took some time to explore Monterosso!

With maps packed and after a breakfast that served lemon cake, (by far the best thing I ate there) we were ready to hit the trail..  Today we would hike the coastline trail from Monterosso to Vernazza.  Due to weather damage the trail was officially closed but a few locals said it was still safe--  We believed them and headed off.  Steep, winding trails, and a few times hugging the mountain led to views that I often asked the same questions, "How did they build this trail?"  How did they build these villages?"  Moments of respect for rugged nature I was witnessing and hands that found ways to build upon it...   We had our own little guide on our way--  red and white marks on the rocks.... always a happy sight to see!

We rewarded ourselves with gelato and sitting in the sun by the water!  The coastline trail from Vernazza to Corniglia was closed so we hopped on the train and then hiked again from Corniglia to Manarola.

A few images that reminded us the power of the elements---- grateful for a few dry days as we explored! By the end of the day we had made it to 4 villages.

Train back, take out pizza, and watching BBC TV was our recovery....  Our second day of hiking with sore legs and up hill trails again.  Because of trail closures we decided to take a three hour trail that took us past two mountain churches and then dropped us down into Vernazza.  Then a visit to the fifth village,  Riomaggiore.  With thoughts of gelato at the end of our trail we headed off--

After a couple days of hiking we took in a day trip to Pisa and Lucca.  An hour train ride to Pisa was our first stop.   Andrea Bocilli, tenor, Galileo Galilei, physicist, Leonardo Fibonacci, mathematician are among a few of the greats that are from Pisa, thank you wikipedia and free wifi. We even learned that Galileo conducted some of his experiments with the law of gravity from the top of the tower. With thoughts of  gifts and talents this strong Leaning Tower of Pisa seemed to applaud striving for knowledge and beauty in learning--

Next train stop Lucca..  A village within a medieval walled city.  A cool rainy afternoon to wander this village and shops.  The open area piazzas with families, language, markets that felt like a live theater productions of Italy..  In so many shops we saw wooden statues of Pinocchio.  A local shop ower explained that the creator, Carlo Collodi lives in a village not too far from Lucca.  The story seemed to come alive as I walked those cobblestone streets--- a treasure from Lucca, my own wooden Pinocchio to remember.

We ended the day by renting bikes and riding the walls of this medieval city.  A corner bike shop with old school bike character was an instant love and a dream bike welcomed me in at the door....  There is something about places where people bike with baskets on the front from place to place within a community that is so inviting and beautiful.

Time goes by quickly when you are taking in new places.  My mind continues to take it all in, sorting it and making sense as I look through photos on my camera as we took our journey home.

Remember something one of my educational mentors, Lucy Calkins has said,
"A road is more than a line of communication between places, but has a life of its own, with unique stories to tell, linking people, places, and journeys over time."

I think back looking up at those rugged mountains and wondering how it is possible to find your way to the top.  And then being on those steep roads, grateful that someone has come before and marked the way.  At times I would stop, with my heart beating fast as I think of what would happen with one slip.  (My fear of heights coming in) And then the joy of getting to the top!  We talked as we hiked and noticed that the process of getting to the top was full of ledges, wet feet, and steep trails.  But what a feeling when we got to the top, "Hiking cures depression."  It makes me wonder if that is a purpose of hard things-- a process of getting us to the top and that there is joy to be found along the way but also from the top if we just keep going!  One of my favorite moments was going up with legs burning and then stopping and seeing how far we had come---

I'm going to carry this image with me as I think of the week ahead and listening to those who have a prophetic knowledge of what lies ahead on the trail and ways to help me solve problems, and find joy in the journey! My spiritual journey of finding truths that helps me see my next steps as I make my way upward..

Already having huge withdrawals from my morning lemon cake!  Something sweet along the way is always needed!  My own little survival chocolate!!

Ciao-Bella!!