There is always risk involved when you try to recreate a past experience. Two years ago we had a great time at the Pesto Experience and now we wanted to share it with the grands hoping they too would enjoy. But first:

Soon we were training our way to Nessun Dorma in Manarola.

One must always do a group pic upon arrival.

In the beginning, not everyone seemed to be onboard with the upcoming exercise.

Others seemed more interested

But once we got going, everyone seemed to get with the program.

And our host demonstrated that making Pesto is a contact sport.

In the end, we had won over over even the most hesitant

Our experience was made all the better when the owner gave a shoutout to the couple celebrating their 50th anniversary, the bachelorette party’s bride to be, and “grandparents who brought their grandchildren”. So it just goes to show, something it is worth taking the risk.

We returned to Monterosso, and since the seas were too rough for the planned kayak excursion, we settled for more beach time

The next day started with the same ritual

Today five of us would hike Vernazza to Corniglia while one would stay behind and hike the Negozi il Monterosso. (Guess which one).

This time we took ferry to Vernazza.

Once we arrived we got right to it

Not sure if it was because I was already worn out by the previous hike or what, but this hike seemed more strenuous. And every bit as beautiful.

We traded one mile pics with Nana

We finally arrived in Corniglia and took a few pictures

before training to Riomaggiore just to be able to say we had hit all five cities of the Cinque Terre.

A special treat was waiting for us when we returned to Monterosso. While we were gone the city streets had been decorated with flowers, grains, and colored sand for the Corpus Domini Festival

Nice way to close out our visit to the Cinque Terre. Now we are on the train to Rome where a different type of adventure awaits once we recover