Week nine abroad in Italy is over and I could not be sadder to see it come to an end. We finished out the week with a weekend trip to Cinque Terre, which, thankfully, Interlinea planned, giving us a nice break from the responsibility of planning our own travel for the weekend! Cinque Terre definitely did not disappoint.View of Manarola in Cinque Terre
I mean, just look at that view! Marco, our amazing hiking guide from the Cinque Terre National Park, helped guide us through this vast and sometimes difficult terrain. Along the way, he taught us about vegetation native to the area, specific herbs used in the Mediterranean diet that are found in Cinque Terre, and historical markers along the pathways, such as abandoned churches from the 15th century! We hiked with him for two days, each view exceeding the last. 

Oh, we also found a little hole in the wall bar featuring an Auburn flag! There it was, just hanging outside the bar, proving the Auburn family is everywhere. War Eagle Cinque Terre!

 
Not only did we climb trails overlooking the sea and the five towns of Cinque Terre, but we even found time in the afternoon to relax on the beautiful Mediterranean beach in Monterosso and soak up some much needed Vitamin D. The weather in Italy has not been ideal tourist weather and we were all extremely thankful to be blessed with a 70 and sunny weekend! It was almost too good to be true.
Cinque Terre stole our hearts and I know many of us will be returning in the future. This weekend was one of my absolute favorites of studying abroad in Italy.
 
A few of the students pose for a picture after climbing a huge rock on the coast of the Mediterranean in Monterosso
 
CIAO for now! – Anna