after our time in florence, we took the train to riomaggiore. we had heard nothing but rave reviews about cinque terre and we were really excited to explore the colorful little towns. unfortunately, all of the trails you can hike between the towns were closed due to landslides, and none of the boats were running either (a con to traveling during off season i suppose). we ended up taking the train between towns (which was OK, except for the long waits between trains) and visited monterosso al mare.
i’m not sure what it’s like during other times of the year, but cinque terre felt really quiet and sleepy while we were there… i think we only passed a handful of other tourists during our stay. we slept in a little apartment that was 6 billion flights of stairs high (i kid. only 9 flights. but the steepest 9 flights of my life.) it paid off though because we had a view from our little room like no other. it didn’t even feel real, it was so beautiful.
^^^sometimes trying to take a photo of the three of us means a photo like this.^^^
^^^^since it comes from this region, it only seemed right to order
a pasta with pesto genovese sauce. and naturally,
i have this new thing for pesto now. ^^^^
my favorite batch of pictures so far – these turned out beautifully! looks like a gorgeous stay – when I went we also stayed up a billion flights of stairs. the trails were open but the trains were not – and one of the girls in our group had quality time to think about how traveling with a backpack is indeed better than traveling with a rollerboard that you have to carry over your head as you hike from town to town.
It's amazing how I am able to sense the peace of your stay in Cinque Terre through your photos …
As always, thank you for sharing, Naomi! Lovely. Just lovely.
wow!! such gorgeous photos :) Love the one of you three.. that is reality right now!!
http://www.studentswife.com
That pasta looks amazing! I love pesto too! It's surprisingly easy to make and adds so much flavor to everything. Beautiful photos!
Such stunning pictures! That place looks like a little slice of heaven. This is definitely going on my list of places to visit when I win the lottery and quit my job to travel… x
So beautiful! Officially on my bucket list.
Lovely. Did you ever answer the question of where your purple dress came from? Lots of us were dying to know. Thanks
So pretty – those colors!
And my stomach is rumbling now thanks to those beautiful pasta shots – get in my belly!
I am jealous! The day we went it was pouring down rain! The area was completely fogged in! I love seeing photos from your trip.I have been to Italy 5 or 6 times and I never get tired of it!
ah! the food and the colors! so incredible. and samson's little sleepy face in the last photo…precious.
Wow!!! That looks SO gorgeous!
I love all the colorful little homes :)
That plate of food looked delish. Going to make myself pesto pasta for a study boost. Thanks!
These pictures a so great, looks so beautiful there. And I can't get over how cute the "sometimes trying to take a photo of the three of us means a photo like this." photo is!!!
-Sarah
http://sarahvonspook.blogspot.com/
Wonderful place…we have been there this summer and have to visit this place one day again :-)
wow so lovely!!!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
It must have been hard to leave Italy. I mean the country is just breathtaking!
these photos are unreal! my faves so far! i love the way you see things through that lens of yours…. wow!
please tell me, where did you get your jacket from?
happy holidays!
Sounds like you felt about the same about Cinque Terre as I did; a little overrated, right? I was only there for one day in May, and it WAS gorgeous, no doubt. But out of the way and lots of stairs? YES! Not much to do? Yep! I can't imagine doing that with 2 littles. You brave, brave soul. :)
gorgeous. i want to go there now.
Absolutely gorgeous photography! They keep getting better.
Oh Cinque Terre, my favorite place…I was there a couple of years ago and stayed in Vernazza and absolutely fell in love with it. I stayed in the month of May so there were just the right amount of tourists and lovely weather. Would love to go back soon. Your pictures are gorgeous!
http://razzdazzle.blogspot.mx/
Cinque Terre is awesome, love it! <3 Such a beautiful place
xx
I have always wanted to go there. Looks beautiful with all the colourful buildings. As always your photos are gorgeous.
http://www.maxsmummi.blogspot.com
Such a beautiful photos once again! You had so much fun in Italy that's for sure :)
http://lartoffashion.blogspot.com
I love all the color! And the attempt at a photo of the three of you is adorable :)
thehartungs.blogspot.ca
I have loved seeing the photos from your Italy trip. I hope to travel there sometime in the near future with my family…We live in Austria, so Italy is just next door!
Love these photos! Your children is always smiling and are so photogenic :)
It looks beautiful. Sometimes it's nice to escape the tourists and go somewhere a little quieter.
The pasta looks amazing!
I've been wanting to go to Cinque Terre for a long time. Now that I live in France, my boyfriend & I plan to rent a car & drive there!! So excited :).
Lovely photos, as always.
aw, i have been exactly here. those buoys floating in the water, and even that grocery store i remember. ahh, the olives and pesto and bread! thank you for reminding me.
beautiful photos–
I am addicted to Your guys! :) Lovely Family! :)
Gorgeous!!! I LOVE the colours!!
Oh the food.. the scenery.. thanks for sharing you and your beautiful family x
hammeringnotes.blogspot.com
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos of Italy! Completely understand what you mean about pesto, after you have the real stuff from liguria you gain a whole new appreciation for the sauce. I'm inspired to try taking more photos in Italy after these posts :)
seeing those photos i just want to go back to italy this summer!!!
http://www.mamajulesbrussels.blogspot.com
these photographs are beautiful.
I long to visit Italy and your post make me want for it even more
x
Georgialouisseloves.blogspot.co.uk
Cinque Terra is one of my favourite places on earth. Had an amazing time there backpacking in 2009. Gorgeous
Your photos bought back so many memories of when I visited. My daughter was only 10 at the time, she still talks about the pasta and the walk between the towns.
http://iliska-dreams.blogspot.com.au/
Again, another delicious post. And photos too.;) Love how you caught the essence of the area.
Cinque Terre are just beautiful. We travelled there on my parent's boat 3 years ago! even more magic from the sea! and i can assure you that during summer, it is packed with people! (good thing to travel on a boat…you're a bit away from the crowd!)
http://www.amoremiobello.fr
When we went to Italy, Cinque Terre was our last stop. We only spent a day and a half there and wished we had planned to spend more time. It was absolutely gorgeous and we had our best meal of the trip there!
Gorgeous photos… seeing them makes me want to go back!
Hi Naomi
Cinqueterre looks beautiful!
Where are your boots from? I've been desperately looking for a sensible but beautiful pair of winter boots like yours.
Ta x
Alice
I am so glad that you guys made the trek to Riomaggiorre. It is truly one of my favorite memories from my study abroad trip in college. And the pesto!! Amazing. Thank you for sharing this wonderful family trip. You have such a lovely family and you will cherish these memories forever.
– Caitlin, From Pumps to Pumas
http://www.pumpstopumas.blogspot.com
oh i love this. i was looking forward to this post most. cinque terre is awesome. beautiful pictures. and josh sort of looks like a celeb dad in the last picture.
beautiful photos!!!
Cinque was my favorite my whole trip! I fell in love with the Pesto as well :) oh and you should probably my be greatful the trails were closed, they are very windy with lots of steps and with your littles I don't think it would have lasted too long, but the views may have been worth it!!
Ah Cinque Terre. My favorite place on our visit to Italy. We were there in May so there were tourists, but it was still quiet in general (so few cars help that I think.) I'm sorry you didn't get to go on any of the trails! The one from Monterosso to Vernazza might(?) have been too much with kids, but the one from Manarola to Riomaggiore would have been perfect and so easy! We couldn't get to or from Corniglia because of the landslide. I just adored it there. We stayed in Monterosso, and while eating dinner on the coast, you could just look up and see both natural and man-made beauty, and it made my heart so happy.
It all looks absolutely incredible!
xoxo
Liesl
woodsy-soiree.blogspot.com
I love the last picture of Samson knocked out in Josh's arms. Precious!
Mmmmm- I love pesto- especially with green beans, pasta, and potatoes.
I love the bright colors in Cinque Terre.
Mmmmm- I love pesto- especially with green beans, pasta, and potatoes.
I love the bright colors in Cinque Terre.
Hello! I have loved reading your posts about Italy, I have been there once and I feel like I am revisiting through all of your beautiful photos!
I travel a lot, and am a serious over-packer. I remember you saying you packed in two backpacks (how???) and your outfits are always so cute in your pictures! Would it be possible to do a post of your outfits on the trip to see good essential items for mixing and matching for traveling lightly?
Lovely lovely lovely pics Taza. Now I defenetly need to go to Italy.
Wow! Cinque terre looked magical. When we go back to Italy, this will be first on my list! And Florence. . . loving all the pictures and little family moments. :)
Quiet (read: dead) streets is definitely one of the cons of traveling in the off season – sometimes you don't get the same feel for a location when it's not buzzing with happy locals and tourists! I had the same "problem" when I was in Puglia in late September. But I think the pros (lower prices, no lines, tourist-free pictures) far outweigh the negatives! Hope you guys had an amazing time in one of my favorite locations ever!
http://6000milestohome.blogspot.it/
Ah, beautiful! I was there in October and I was so excited to hear about your stay. I really do want to go back at peak time – despite the massive influx of tourists – and really see the entire countryside. So glad you had a great time!
-Z
sometimesztakespictures.wordpress.com
I love this post, makes me miss Cinque Terres so much! Thankfully we visited back in 2010 when the hiking trails were all fine, pre-hurricane, and hiked them all. It was gorgeous.
I have to ask – you said in your post about traveling that you and your husband each only had a back pack full of clothes, and yet in every post you seem to be wearing completely different clothes and it seems like one outfit would barely fit in the backpack, let alone with all the shoes as well. Did you buy clothes in Italy, or do you have some magic packing skills that you can share?
I love this post, makes me miss Cinque Terres so much! Thankfully we visited back in 2010 when the hiking trails were all fine, pre-hurricane, and hiked them all. It was gorgeous.
I have to ask – you said in your post about traveling that you and your husband each only had a back pack full of clothes, and yet in every post you seem to be wearing completely different clothes and it seems like one outfit would barely fit in the backpack, let alone with all the shoes as well. Did you buy clothes in Italy, or do you have some magic packing skills that you can share?
it looks so magical and inspiring. you are so blessed to have been able to visit! thanks for sharing your pictures!
Just gorgeous. I love these pictures from your vacation! Keep them coming!
Corbynn
thesistersinthecity.com
i wanted to go there but was told not to because since the landslides, it's not so easy to get around and just not the same experience. still beautiful though!!
These photos are all so gorgeous!
This place is so magical! You always take fabulous pictures. And that food….I'm dying! I want!!! :)
xo TJ
absolutely stunning photos! :)
such beautiful pictures, and the candid picture of the you and your littles is amazing :)
although i have to admit, i stared at the last picture of your husband for an extra 5 seconds… "that facial hair… almost looks like a fake stick-on…"
haha :p
I love the picture of you, E and S!! OMG adorable!! You make being a mom look so easy! as you always look happy and refreshed!!!
http://www.lilmsadventures.blogspot.com
Aww, bring back memories! When we went in the summer, it seemed to us that it was the place Italians went to vacation. It was busy with American tourists too but we loved it so much that we are going back this summer. I can't wait to swim in that clear blue water again!
Cinque Terre is SO beautiful! Love your photos :)
It's so gorgeous there! Mmmm who wouldn't have a thing for pesto ;)
i have a thing for pesto here in california, so i can only imagine how much my love for it would grow if i had it in italy haha this looks like the loveliest place that you stopped through in italy. love all the colors!
I think it's my favorite post so far! Did have a question, what brand is that brown jacket?? I love the buttons on the wrist.
I agree with everyone about your light packing and the different pieces of clothing. I'm sure the boots and jeans were your staples. But the dress, scarve(s!!), petlum pink top, etc., tooooo cute!
Loved it all.
-Marissa
sandalsandbowties.wordpress.com
this is really breath-taking!
Oh my, what a sweet sleeping boy you have in that last photo!
Ive been the chinque terre two yeas ago and it was amazing! Its seriously one of the most beautiful places i ve ever visited :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ive been the chinque terre two yeas ago and it was amazing! Its seriously one of the most beautiful places i ve ever visited :)
Aw really looks like such a beautiful place wow x
http://currentlylovingblog.blogspot.com/
cinque terre is supposed to be absolutely beautiful, and you pictures do it's reputation justice!
xo, cheyenne
I love your travel photography.
http://lejlatravels.blogspot.com/
Uh-oh! Josh breaking out the manly facial hair! (LOL) The sights are exquisite, but I have my eye on that food! Yum.
Oh my goodness, this looks like the most beautiful place! Amazing photos! xo
http://www.jenventure.blogspot.co.uk
What beautiful pictures! I cannot wait to go there someday.
avenova.blogspot.com
Ohhhhh that last photo, so precious!
laught at the last photi haha :-D so cute
We were there in May and it was hopping quite a bit more than what you experienced. However, it (the season) was just getting started so I easily sensed the quite aspect you mention. Looks and sounds like you had a great time despite. Your pictures are amazing.
Oh, and pesto oh yes! Mike was distracted by all the anchovies too!
dina
Isn't Cinque Terre the best place in the whole world?? We went in the Spring and wanted to move to Riomaggiore – I think the stairs were the only thing that convinced me otherwise…lol. :) Monterosso was amazing, too! And oh, the pesto – it's been half a year and I still crave it once a week. That and fresh mozarella. Did you try pesto lasagna? Best. Ever. It looks like you guys had fun!!
Beautiful photos! Does your husband always wear a collared shirt and tie while travelling? Just curious.
Beautiful pictures! They gave me the travel bug for sure.