Day 4- Cinque Terre and Pisa Sightseeing

TODAY IN ITALY WAS A BLAST! LOTS OF SIGHT SEEING AND A FANTASTIC BEACH DAY!

OUR DAY STARTED OFF FAIRLY EARLY AT 8:30 AM WITH A THREE HOUR BUS RIDE TO CINQUE TERRE. I SLEPT THROUGH THE ENTIRE RIDE, BUT WOKE UP ONCE TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL FARMING COMMUNITY.

ONCE AT CINQUE TERRE, WE WAITED A WHILE TO BOARD A TRAIN THAT WOULD TAKE US TO EACH OF THE FIVE TOWNS: MONTEROSSO, VERNAZZA, CORNIGLIA, MANAROLA, AND RIOMAGGIORE. AS A TEAM, WE DECIDED TO HANG OUT AT THE BEACH AT THE FIFTH TOWN, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS MONTEROSSO. LITERALLY ALL WE DID FOR PROBABLY AND HOUR AND A HALF WAS CHILL IN THE WATER AND TAKE PICTURES OF EACH OTHER. SOME OF THE GIRLS GREW VERY FASCINATED BY THE COOL ROCKS, AND PICKED SOME OUT TO TAKE BACK AS SOUVENIRS, I FOUND SOME COOL ONES TOO.

GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE WATER LOW KEY HURT, THE ROCKS FELT A LITTLE STRANGE.

After chilling in the water for a bit, some of us walked around to stop at some of the tourist shops. I found this cute zip up jacket and a cool magnet. We then walked a little further down and found a cute gelato place. I got two flavors, one was raspberry and I forget what the other one was called, but I know it started with an ‘a.’

Before we knew it, we had to take the train back to the station. Had to walk back to the bus to get ready for the next stop, Pisa!

The bus ride was a lot shorter, and yes, I was asleep the entire ride. There’s just something about being on those buses that makes me pass out.  At Pisa, we were given an hour or so to explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the surrounding churches. Of course, we had to do the cheesy tourist pictures where we pretend to hold the tower up; can’t see the tower and not do it, it’s basically an unspoken tourist rule.

After realizing there wasn’t a ton we could do but stare at the tower and churches, the team walked back to get some food at a small restaurant on the corner. I ordered the margarita pizza, it was good. Yes that’s a bit vague, but that is the best word to describe it. Nothing too excited.

After dinner, we all walked back to the bus that would take us to our hotel in Florence!

The day has concluded. Ended a bit more burnt than when the day started, but completely worth it.

- Izzi Bennett, Freshman