I left on Thursday evening from Rome on a coach bus with about 30 other people who were all taking some sort of business class that gained them entry onto the trip (I'm taking Strategic Management). With only one stop, it took us around 6 hours to get to Genoa, the town that we were staying in. We didn't arrive there until about 1am, so we immediately went to bed so as to prepare for the busy day on Friday.
Friday morning, we got up and out of the hotel at 8 and made our way to the first company--Selex ES. This company was huge in information technology and built software for anything from postal service tracking and codes to national defense communications. From there, we went to Alsaldo STS, a transportation company that designs and implements mass transit systems (trains, trams, etc.) around the world. Next was a presentation at the Italian Institute of Technology, which is basically the Italian version of MIT. It was extremely interesting to hear of and see some of the projects they're working on--including a life-size robot that could think for itself and learn new things. We ended the day with a meeting with the governor of Liguria (the northern region of Italy), which was extremely dull. He clearly didn't want to be there and, like any good politician, he avoided our questions about the recent destruction in the area from floods.
After all of that business, we had worked up quite an appetite. A few of the resident (full-time) students from AUR and I went out to dinner that night in a small restaurant near the hotel, and we had a full-on Italian meal. We started by getting a few bottles of wine for the table--white, since many were having fish. Then, we got some bruschetta for everybody--we ordered 8 and were expecting 8 pieces, but they ended up bringing out 8 plates with 3 pieces each...it was a bit much. Then we went for the main course. I ordered Trofie al Pesto--a pasta dish that was basically noodles, pesto, green beans and a few potato chunks. Since Genoa is known for their pesto, I figured it would be delicious, and let me tell you--it was DELICIOUS. The pesto was unlike any that I'd had before and it was amazing!
The following morning, we set off for Cinque Terre (pronounced chink-way tare-ay) for our hike. Cinque Terre (literally meaning five lands) is a grouping of five beach towns along the northern Mediterranean coast. Between each of the towns is a hiking trail through the surrounding mountains as well as a train that connects them. The drive there along tiny, twisted streets on the edges of a cliff was a bit dicey on the giant bus, but we made it. We had a quick pit stop for lunch--I had Fritto Misto di Pesce (mixed pan-fried fish) and a glass of white wine--before we set off on the 2 hour hike to the next town.
A couple beautiful views on the drive to Cinque Terre
The coast was breathtaking despite the clouds
The first town in Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore), from the bus
View from the train station in Riomaggiore
A quick stop at the beach in Vernazza before the hike
Famous views of Vernazza
Mountainside houses
Couldn't get enough of the Seaside views!
Just over the wobbly railing on the hiking path
Finally made it!
The hike was a completely amazing experience. From the beach at the beginning of the trail to the highest point, there is an elevation difference of 800 meters (about 2,600 feet). It was treacherous at times (if your foot slipped, you would literally fall off a cliff) and it was definitely a workout (SO MANY STAIRS), but WOW, what an adventure. A few of us who were ahead of the main group got a round of waters and beers to enjoy as everyone finished their hike.
After the drive back, we had another delicious dinner (I had grilled mixed fish and white wine), a not-so-good beer at a nearby pub, and then returned to the hotel.
Sunday was the return home, but to break up the drive, we stopped in Pisa for some sights and lunch. Overall, Pisa isn't all that. If I wasn't going there en route to somewhere else, it wouldn't have been worth it. But I made sure to get some spectacular pics none the less.
Nailed the shot
Not even leaning...
Overall it was an excellent weekend. For anyone traveling to northern Italy, definitely consider Cinque Terre if you have a day or two to spare.
Things to look forward to this week: a buttload of homework before midterms next week, a visit to the Capitoline Museum for my history class and a trip to Barcelona leaving on Thursday!
Thanks for reading,
Kasey Ann
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