Trip #1: Cinque Terre

The first stop in our Italian adventure brought us to this shockingly beautiful coastal town in northern Italy.

Our first week in Italy was dedicated to adjusting to all the new things that life in a foreign country brought... Time difference, class orientation, and navigating a brand new city with a totally different culture and lifestyle.

However, by the end of the week we were beyond ready to see more of Italy! So that Thursday night we bought train tickets, found a place to stay, and took off for the coast the next morning.

I had no idea what to expect before visiting Cinque Terre. I hadn't heard much about the area and spent no time researching beforehand, since our decision was so last minute. Little did I know this place would become one of the most unforgettable destinations we would visit!

Cinque Terre meaning "Five Lands," is a region of 5 villages along the west coast of northern Italy. Multi-colored buildings line the rocky seaside hills, overlooking the stunning turquoise waters of the Ligurian Sea.

We spent the weekend swimming, cliff-jumping, strolling the narrow streets, drinking wine, enjoying the Italian cuisine, and having more gelato than should be humanly acceptable.

Our Airbnb was located in the village of Vernazza, steps away from the heart of this quaint yet lively town. We were able to navigate the village quite easily, as everything we needed was within walking distance.

Me standing in the street outside of our Airbnb in Vernazza.

Most of our time in Cinque Terre was spent in the water... Exploring the beaches, climbing rocks and jumping off cliffs. Dominic bought a pair of goggles and we were able to view the most stunning marine life I have ever seen underwater!

Throughout the day, between swims, our main activity consisted of strolling the streets with gelato in hand (or in my case, both hands at one point... I was too ashamed to document this moment.)

The first night in Cinque Terre, we went for a wine tasting at a beautiful Trattoria called Vernazza WineExperience overlooking the ocean. To get there, we had to climb up to the top of the hills, which was quite a trek but completely worth it. We were able to try incredible wine while taking in the stunning seaside views below.

Alessandra and I enjoying our wine!

Our server at Vernazza WineExperience was incredibly friendly, and recommended that we visit Cinque Sensi, their sister wine club located below in the village. So that is where we spent our evening the following day!

While we were there, he came in with his dogs Bob and Marley and sat with the three us. He told us about what life in Vernazza is like and introduced us to the owner of Cinque Sensi, Alessandro. We also befriended the bartender, who made us amazing custom drinks (with pasta straws for the perfect Italian touch).

On our walk back to where we were staying we came across a lively game of soccer being held on one of the beaches. It seemed like the whole village was there, cheering on their family and friends and enjoying time with one another.

From there, we made a detour to another beach and it wasn't long before Dom and I made the spontaneous decision to jump into the ocean, still fully clothed in our evening attire, to commemorate our last night in Cinque Terre. I would give anything to relive that moment again-- floating in the sea, with the brightest stars above me, reflecting on an amazing trip with my two best friends full of memories and experiences that I know we will cherish forever.

And this was only the beginning of all the memories in store for us that semester.