An early flight today from Brussels to Genoa flew directly over central Switzerland. The Alps rise abruptly, cutting the elevation between the plane and the ground in half. Glaciers were visible on some of the north faces of the high peaks.
Upon arrival in Genoa, we took the train along the coast of the Ligurian Sea from Genoa to Levanto. We booked a night at a B&B in Levanto; it was literally the only vacancy I could find on this summer weekend anywhere near Cinque Terre (1). We went to the public portion of the beach (2) for a swim on this sunny warm day.
A hiking trail app showed a very straight trail cutting across contour lines on the map, a very odd circumstance. The rail line in this area had been rerouted in the early 1960s, straightening the route and redigging the tunnels for two tracks. The previous rail grade (and long tunnels) have been repurposed as a bicycle and pedestrian path (3). The trail is known as Ciclopedonale Marimonti (4).
We rented bikes and rode north along the sea and through the cool tunnels to the next town, Bomosello. We watched young guys (who else) jumping off cliffs into the sea. The stretch of the trail further north was quieter. As we neared Furnaci, I knew the trail was about to end when we heard a train rumbling in the newer tunnel next to us. At Furnaci, the trail dead ended at the new rail alignment. The only way into town was down a long flight of stairs, through a tunnel, then back up the other side.
On the ride back, we stopped for a swim at dog beach, just north of Levanto.
(1) We had planned a longer trip starting in France on July 1, but I got Covid in late June. Because my plans were scrambled, I took whatever lodging I could get at the last minute. It was a lovely B&B with only two rooms, a garden with lemon trees, and a clothes line guests could use.
(2) Many beaches in this part of Italy are private, covered with beach umbrellas of uniform color and placement. You can tell the public beaches by the irregular placement and varied colors of the umbrellas.
(3) There seemed to be too many bikes in the town that had about a dozen streets and was surrounded by steep mountains.
(4) Basically translated as "bike and walking path sea and mountains."
In the tunnels in the bike trail
The three arches
Adolescents (boys of course) were jumping off the cliffs
On the ride North
At Furnaci
On the ride back
Note the palm trees. Levanto is over 100 miles north of Boston (Lattitude wise)
Dog Beach
Almost back to Levanto
At Levanto
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