Five paradises and a Great friend

Crap, this is all that I have left after being robbed. Stole a towel and soap and shampoo from the Hotel Souvenir
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This morning Tetsu and I set out by foot at 0900.  I took a towel and all the soap and shampoo I could get my hands on.  I hope the hotel doesn't mind.  I am in desperate times here.

Monterosso beach was sooo beautiful but it was chilly in the morning (I don't have a jacket anymore) so we didn't swim.  We found the tourist office and got a map of the paths through the five villages.  I bought a cheap pair of surf shorts for swimming later in the day because the water looked soo inviting.  It was so blue that it looked fake.  It's gross, but it reminded me of the toilet water when people put artificial coloring in it!  I swear it was so blue.  Bluer than Hawaii...GASP!!!

Just when you thought towns couldn't get smaller and more romantic, Cinqueterre comes along.
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We found our trail and paid 4 euros to walk through the Cinqueterre national park.  The first leg of the trip to Vernazza had many stairs and was very tiring.  Tetsu smokes but he did okay.  I was worried he would hold me back but what that guy in John's Cozy Little Backpackers Hostel said in Germany is true...we Japanese can power through a lot!  The path ran along the coast and offered breath taking views of everything: the ocean, Monterosso, the cliffs, the mountains, yada yada yada.  It was so good that Tetsu and I agreed it was getting boring...over stimulation I suppose.  Just the same paradise over and over and over.  Along the way, he tested me on my Japanese that I had learned the night before.  I taught him more Spanish and we talked a lot about our homes and what we do.  I already mentioned that he's a business man and I had no idea that D and B stuff sold like crazy in Japan!  He said he thinks it's stupid but he makes money off of it so he won't complain...I don't blame him.  After 1.5 hrs of walking and climbing stairs and millions of "ciaos" and "bonjournos" to passersby, we finally reached Vernazza.  It was perched on the cliffs.  We stopped in a little shop where we both bought a bottle of water since neither brought any on the trip.  I had a seafood salad with pasta and pesto...it was so good.  He had the same.  Turns out he likes to cook and was asking me how to make the pesto sauce...I dare not say anything because it'd probably be wrong so I just said "no idea".  I said it in Japanese but I can't remember now how to say it...oh well.  I hope we keep in touch so that I can continue learning Japanese.

Monterosso bay was straight out of a painting. Too cold in the morning to want to swim though. Monterosso is the western most village along the coastline.
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We continued our trip from Vernazza along another cliffside path along the coast to Corniglia.  There, we had a taste of Limoncino...a liquor made with lemons!  I thought it was like a wine so I just started drinking it from the bottle that we bought...apparently it's more like a dressing on a desert and the shop keep stopped me and pointed to the 50% alcohol content label!  Ayuh!  Good thing I didn't down too much of it!  We had it on gelato and it was absolutely amazing.  Imagine...lemonade...with a touch of alcohol (it's not strong) and mouth-watering gelato...that's what it was all about baby!

Looking at Monterosso after about 15 minutes of hiking towards Vernazza, the next village.
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We set out again from Corniglia to Manarola, and then to Riomaggiore.  We stopped at many places along the way including Guvano Beach in Corniglia.  We had to pay 5 euros to get access to the beach since it was private lands...that was completely new to both of us.  We had a swim at the black pebble beach.  The water was a bit dirtier than I thought it would be and much colder!  It was still really refreshing and nice to be there.  Both of us took a small nap on the black stones because they were very warm and calming.  After the nap we set out to Manarola and Riomaggiore.  The best town was probably Monterosso and the prettiest was probably one of the three in the middle...I suppose Vernazza though it's hard to tell which paradise was best.

Cliffs more beautiful than Howth Peninsula. Water so unrealistically blue.
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In Riomaggiore we parted ways as he went back to Monterosso by train and I continued on to La Spezia.  At Riomaggiore I bought more toothpaste since I had lost it in the bag as well as another bottle of water and a bag of crackers and some fruit.  I have found that having fruit, carbohydrates, and water is pretty much good-to-go status.  Everything you need is in those three.  I made a call to the Ostello Aussi Richi in Florence to reserve my spot.  I caught the next train to Florence.  I saw another Tuscan sunset while on the train that really melted my face.  What a beautiful area.  The train ride was roughly 2.5 hours long to Florence.  I took 15 minutes to find my hostel.  I had a shower...and found out that I can be efficient by using my shirt as a wash cloth I can wash the shirt and clean my self!  Wow I'm roughing it.  Tomorrow I may buy another shirt and a backpack or something...probably not though.  There's tons to see in Florence according to Let's Go so I'll save the luxuries for later.  Tomorrow I will set out early in the morning to see Michelangelo's David.

My new friend Tetsu.
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Love you all!