We were roughing it again recently, maybe not a wise move considering the autumn years of my existence.  My back took a beating, of course, sleeping on the cold, hard, and wet ground.

I am getting ahead of myself, so let me back up a bit.  A couple of weeks ago Ailien and I decided to go camping again after many years of ’soft’ living.  We headed to Cinque Terre, a conclave of five villages in a National Park on the Ligurian coast.  This part of the well-known coastline of the Riviera di Levante includes Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. The towns were designed so as to discourage automotive traffic and can only be approached by foot, rail or boat.  The best way, we found, to explore the five areas is on foot by following the winding cliff side paths (blue trail on the map.)  We go past vineyards, olive groves and vegetable gardens with an ever-present view of the Ligurian Sea.  Some stretches are undoubtedly more challenging than others, the easiest being the one between Riomaggiore and Manarola, a sedate path known as Via dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane).  Exhilarating and romantic, it is said that the English poets Byron and Shelley often traveled near here.

On the way down to Cinque Terre we stopped in Cremona for one night to camp and explored the town.  Cremona, home to Antonio Stradivari,  is well known for the production of stringed instruments.  We spent the first week in Cinque Terre in wet, stormy weather.  Miraculously, our old tent kept us warm and dry, but the weather curtailed our outdoor activities somewhat.  The second week was far more pleasant as we moved down south to Tirrenia near Pisa in Tuscany.  The sun was hot, the beach way less crowded, pizzas crisp and fresh, and the local wines rich and heady.  A day trip to the walled city of Lucca was another delightful discovery.  Sleepy, and luxuriating under the Tuscan sun, Lucca  is a compact town totally walled in and boasts a unique tower (Torre Guinigi) which has trees growing at the top.

Any amount of time spent in Italy generally rejuvenates one’s outlook on the enjoyment of life, and this trip was no exception.  It also made us want to camp more often.