It’s still quite flat and easy all the way to Corniglia. I find a large group of walkers looking over the ledge and of course I stop to see what they are looking at – three young men are swimming in the sea after jumping off of a cliff into the water! Just look at that drop, yikes!
I recognize them as ones I ran into during the first leg of my trip, and I stop to have my lunch while watching their antics. The water looks cool and inviting and I envy their sense of adventure and freedom. I sit by a walk that says ’5 euro entrare nall via dell ‘amore…siamo pazzi?!!’ Which means ’5 euro to enter Lover’s Lane, are they crazy?’ Apparently someone thought the entry was steep! I would have to agree, for only Lover’s Lane it is steep, but for the whole trail it is a reasonable price.
Somewhere in the middle of the path there is a bridge hovering over a cliff overlooking the ocean – this is not for a the fainthearted! A man carries his small furry dog over the bridge, clearly the dog is (wisely) afraid of heights. The path continues flat and easy until I reach the train station below Corniglia and many, many stairs. After finding your way up the stairs a sign greets you ‘You’ve Just walked 382 steps”. Congratulations! Toward the left is the town of Corniglia, a tiny place perched high up on a cliff. I clearly remember passing someone’s garden with a tree full of ripe, delicious looking lemons. They look particularly wonderful and refreshing after hiking for a few hours. When you reach an area with a restaurant go left into a small street to find a piazza with a church, a large statue and many shops and restaurants. This is a good place to stop for a drink or snack and buy a few postcards.
