I thought I would take a little break in the Europe travels to share a little about life here in California! It has been wonderful living in beautiful Cali that I still feel like I'm sharing vacation photos even though this, for us, is ordinary life. We are so happy to have the opportunity to live in this beautiful state. And even happier that we get to share it with friends who come to visit!

In September when it had just turned to fall in California, Mr. Finter's friends drove down for the weekend. On Saturday Mr. Finter took everyone out to enjoy the different beaches in the area. First they went out to Balboa and then went up to Huntington to find better waves. Although it was windy and cold on the beach (and even colder in the water) the men were excited to get thrashed in the waves! 

Here are a few shots from our adventures.

The four men making their way out to the larger set of waves.

What a windy day!

 

The ladies were all pretty bundled up as it was SO cold that day. And here is Leah's Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet and carry her back to a warm car! 

Tim and Rachel, soon to be married. Isn't this couple so sweet!

We love when our friends come to visit! The moment you left, we said "Oh, can't wait til next time!"

Hiking Cinque Terre Day 2

Our second day in Cinque Terre was a day for me. I wanted to hike until I couldn't stand up anymore! So we set off to hike the pedestrian route between the five coastal towns of Cinque Terre. Unfortunately, there had been a big storm a few months before that caused massive landslides on the coast and we could only hike two pathways linking 3 of the 5 towns. The last two we had to visit by train. But it was still so much fun to hike a little of the way and to see the magnificent view! 

Here we are at the start of the pathway looking back at the first town of Monterosso. This part of the pathway was so polished and safe. But it got progressively less and less polished. 

I can't get over that water!!

Here is a shot of what the pathways looked like linking the towns. They were carved right into the hills with no railing of any kind. The fall off the side they said was 6-8 feet in most parts and up to 30 feet in others. 

The hillsides are covered in absolutely gorgeous gardens. Lots and lots of grape vines.

The stairways along the path were practically vertical. Landon was ahead of me at one point on a staircase and I could have kissed his ankles without much effort because the stairs were so steep. You felt like you were practically laying down on the stairs rather than climbing up them. I couldn't find any good photos of the stairs, probably because I was too focused on making it up them! 

But the views from the tops of the hills were breathtaking!

The pathway also had this amazing "Lord of the Rings" esq bridge over a waterfall.

And here the pathway is over a stream. 

Here is a shot as we came into the town of Vernazza. The second of our journey. 

This is where we caught our first glimpses of the damage from the landslides. 

It tore right through this house. 

We were so hot from the 2 hour trek that we went straight into the ocean. The rocks along the beach looked like they were right out of an spa treatment add so i tried to alleviate some of landon's muscle aches. And then..

I thought I burned him!! Luckily the marks faded after a few hours haha!

For lunch we enjoyed fried seafood and chips!

Here is a look at the beach from up top of the village during the second hike. 

I think this shot is soo cool! It shows how high up the pathway was to the third town of Corniglia which does not sit right on the water, but rather on the cliffs above it. 

This is the view from the cliffs of Corniglia and you can see in the distance the fourth town of Manarola. 

The Cinque Terre region is known for growing lots and lots of basil and making the world's best pesto. 

After our hike I stopped in a a pharmacy to see if they had anything that could help my mosquito bites. Yes! These welts the size of a small child's fist are mosquito bites I got while camping. I went into the pharmacy and asked if they had something for itchy bug bites. The woman proceeded to show me some anti-itch creams. I said I had tried some and they didn't work and she said show me. I pulled out my arm bite and she gasped! In all her Italian glory, her arms were waving about as she said oh no no no no no you need something much much stronger. 

And so as not to end on that note, here is a lovely flower we found on our walk that we had never seen before! So amazing!