A few weekends ago we enjoyed another little hike in our area - Bommer's Canyon. We were busy all day relaxing and doing errands so we didn't manage to make it out for the hike until it was close to sunset. It made for a beautiful blue glow on the grassy canyon and the perfect light, cool breeze for our walk. We started out on the path laid out through the canyon, but I was itching to hike and so we left the path and headed up one of the hills. We climbed through sharp, dry grass, several old, abandoned barb wire fences and prickly pear bushes until we got as far up as we could without losing all the light of day. Here are a few shots from our little adventure. 

For a leisurely walk and a little adventure off the path, Bommer's Canyon was perfect. 

Hiking Crystal Cove

Lately, Landon and I have been doing our best to juggle our new life with my new work schedule. We feel so blessed that the first six months of my orientation I am on day shifts because it allows us to spend the evenings together. In June, I will go to nights and it will be a very different adjustment. Since I have been working as a nurse we have been trying very hard to make the most of every day I have off with activities and exploring. A few weeks ago we went on a hiking date around an area of the coast called Crystal Cove. It was beautiful weather and so nice to spend the day together.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

We drove a bit farther north to a small village called Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. It is a dreamlike medieval village set atop a large cliff and overlooking the most beautiful rolling hills, river and farmlands. I actually first went to this village on my Study Abroad and so was really excited to take Landon here. We set up camp below the village and then took a walk to the top of the hill. 

At the very top of the village there are the ruins of the castle that used to stand and look over the village and valley. It provides a magnificent view!

The little village is perfectly preserved as if time just stopped. I loved the wooden shutters, cobblestone streets and vine canopies we saw throughout. 

The streets are lined with little artisan shops and like everything else about the village, the artisan's methods seem frozen in time. There are wood carvers, jewelry makers, painters, candy makers and so much more and each artisan's family has owned their store for generations. 

We had an absolutely gorgeous dinner underneath a canopy of grape vines.

And then took a stroll atop the ruins as the sun set. 

It was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places we have ever seen.

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!