5terre

Oh, I cut my hair...

Cinqueterre. The best weekend getaway I could have asked for.
Our train was delayed and we missed the connecting one, but va bene, because we had a dance party in the station splitting an iPod four ways.

Upon arrival we realized we were in a most beautiful place straight off a postcard. The weather was perfect and we walked between the first and second city along the road of love. City two had delicious cheap gelato and colorful buildings. Between two and three we found a playground. Then we decided it was too hot and changed into swimming suits. We found a boat dock and jumped off some rocks into the water and it was delightful. Salty, but delightful.

Swimming was going quite well and we were on our way back in when Christina yells out that something stung her. We had just looked in the water and not see anything but fish so I was thinking, great the freaking fish are electric. Then Cailey yells that she got stung too. And I was in between the two of them. I don’t think I’ve ever swam as fast as I swam towards shore then. Sharlie was on shore and said she could not figure out what was going on because we were all booking it towards her. Christina got stung again and I was freaking out because I had no idea what I was swimming away from. We get on shore and their skin is bubbling up and all white. But they were tough and didn’t complain. So we lay out to draw on this rock-thing. And about 20 minutes later I notice a little pink thing floating along in the water. Jellyfish infestation. Luckily they were little things.
Speaking of injuries. Peter, our director and art teacher, is always concerned about people’s health and asks several times a day if we are okay. Well, he decided it would be neat to poke a garden snake with a stick and it bit him. Turns out the garden snake was a viper and one of the most poisonous things in Italy. His thumb swelled up, then his arm, and it headed for his heart.
Turns out his blood was thickening and he was beginning to be digested. He spent the night in the hospital and we were almost Peterless.

The rest of cinqueterre was magical. After exploring the first day, we ran up an insane hill to catch the bus and almost died. But then we checked into the hostel and went exploring around the surrounding areas in search of dinner. The town was mostly deserted but we did see two boys and contemplated asking them for directions to a restaurant. The stopped near us and said, “ciao” to which we all replied in a girly, “ciao!” turns out they were saying goodbye to each other, not hello to us. One of the complications of a word that means hello and goodbye.

Cailey could smell Basilicas but that didn’t help us much.

We finally headed down a road to a pizza place, but they were on holiday, but we passed a window and could hear a man singing opera. And it’s moments like that when you know you’re in Italy.

At the restaurant I decided to be adventurous and got these weird pasta pancakes. They were hard to chew. Rapped about our awesome day on the walk back.

Survived my first night in a hostel. And we were first in line for the bus that morning. Hiked up 300 stairs to a pretty viewpoint. Mishaps occurred but I was given the opportunity to use the knowledge accumulated through 50 first aid and a sports med class. I saved the day with RICE though she insisted on not elevating or resting. Nap on the beach to make up for lack of sleep. Braved the water again, but only after Christina scoped out the water with her goggles.

Ate quiche and foccaccia with pesto for lunch. And Kit-Kat gelato in a waffle cone. Sat along the water and watched the boats floating along. Found Kostos.

Train ride back broke down, or something, it was explained quickly in Italian whatever it was that happened. Entertained people with The Lauren Show featuring Lynzie and Sharlie with a very supportive live audience.
Where'd it all go?

I am in love with the Miel (honey) Pop cereal we have here.