16 Oct, 2015: Capuchin Monastery and Hike to Vernazza

I would underestimate that we have climbed a million stairs in the last 3 days--everything in the Cinque Terre is either up or down. My knees hurt, my feet hurt, my butt is sore...you get the picture. 

So we started the day by climbing the switchbacks of the friars to the Capuchin Church--formerly a convent and now cared for by a single friar. 

Along the way we passed the statue of San Francesco d'Assissi with a wolf. Also a rather impressive private home with its own pier--which was mostly underwater as they all have been since our arrival.

We continued up to the cemetery in the castle ruins at the top of the hill.

Wandered back down the hill, through town, did a little souvenir shopping, and then out the south end of Monterosso to take the trail thru the Cinque Terre National Park to Vernazza. 

Up and up past farm terraces, down a bit and then up again. I think the highest posted elevation was 164 meters.

The biggest surprise was an old man who had set up a juicer on the trail and was selling fresh orange juice fior 2 Euros.

It was a long, hard hike with very little level ground. We were ever so glas to get our first sighting of Vernazza,

Took pics of some scenic streets there, too.

The Santa Margherita church is rather substantial and right on the harbor. 

We decided to have our main meal at the Gianni Franzi, where we had eaten the previous day because the wait staff are very pleasant and you can watch all the comings and goings in the Piazzi Marconi.  No boat traffic, given the continuing high waves, but there was one fisherman. 

The boats all get pulled up on shore and sit in the streets.

We cleaned out the fridge for dinner--olives, cheese, bread, an apple--and got packed for an early departure tomorrow.