This was a day where I wish my thoughts could have been recorded.
First off, I realized that I needed to re-calculate the next few days of travel, so I actually spent a few hours doing that this morning before exploring so I wouldn’t stress about it. End result … Train to Nice, France tomorrow, and then flying to Brussels. I have music in Belgium & Netherlands on the tail end of my trip, so decided to just get up north so I’d be closer and will spend my last week or so up there.
SO! Googled Vernazza, and apparently one of the best “vista” paths is Vernazza > Monterosso, which conveniently is literally steps from where I’m staying. SO, off I went. Unfortunately, there was a mudslide a few weeks ago, so the main route was closed.
But.
Was it?
I actually saw some people on the other side of the rope earlier, so I thought, well, I will just go walk that way until someone tells me not to. Coeur d’Alene Friends … Think Tubbs Hill with steps times 100 on steroids … that was the terrain. It was up, up, up, up. As if I wasn’t tired from yesterday, I kept going for about 30-40 minutes. I was bearing in mind that I’d had a couple physical days, and honestly, the UPHILL steps, though cardio-testing, are easier than the DOWN steps … I don’t think I’ve mentioned in these travel posts, I have rheumatoid arthritis. My MAIN symptom is my feet. They suck. They’re numb. There’s not much pain though, which is great, but I can NOT count on them for balance. And my ankles suck. SO, I have to be VERY AWARE of where my foot lands and make sure I don’t go too fast, otherwise, Imma tumblin down a hill. SOOO. The downhill steps were slow and careful. I do have trip insurance, but I DON’T WANT TO USE IT.
I got back and rested for a bit, and then wandered around town some more … thinking more of what I want to do/not do. I had Googled best places to eat in Vernazza, but they weren’t actually that great. I didn’t even venture out of this one town of the 5 … I just didn’t have it in me. And that got me to thinking about missing out … but am I? If I’m enjoying every second of the time I have where I am, isn’t that what it’s about? Vs racing around to get the shots? I don’t know … I will definitely do traveling differently next time, but I have ideas about a Euro concert trip … lol. It could happen.
Had my first gelato of the trip. It was delish, but I honestly eat so economically and for fuel these days, it’s been hard to think about indulging in a lot of ways “just because I’m here” – I’ve been perfectly content with buying things at the market to eat through the day.
