Falling in love with Cinque Terre

I can still remember googling Cinque Terre in my sorority house two years ago, and dreaming about the day I would witness it's beauty. I gasped over pictures of friends that had visited and hiked the five villages, I made it a personal goal to someday do the same. 
After a few hours via train to la Spezia, and a  quick transfer, Katie and I were arriving in the second most souther village of the five, Manarola. We planned to stay in Manarola for  3 nights while we explore the rest o the villages. Manarola turned out to be the perfect getaway. It's italian charm won us over from the very beginning . As we walked up the hill to Check in we were greeted by the sweetest women, Anna. She was a thirty something, receptionist, Very humorous and thoughtful, that led us to our home for the next couple days. As we trek the 100 and something steps up, through the humidity, we make it to our double room that overlooked all of Manarola. The view was gorgeous! We were surrounded by gardens, vineyards, and massive mediterranean.  
Our first evening in Manarola, Katie and I went to dinner at one of the local restaurants by the port, La Portocillo,  the service and food was divine. I enjoyed fresh grilled lobster that was caught earlier that day, with an array of vegetables, paired with their local Cinque Terre house white. Ah I can taste the fresh oregano just thinking about it! 
Since Manarola is a small village, Internet access was limited. This was a bit of a struggle for Katie and I considering we needed to book our next couple of nights in Florence. In our second day, we went  to a near by town that had wifi access. 10 dollars, and a few studious hours later, we had booked our next 5 nights, and train tickets in Firenze. Exhaustion from surfing the web, Katie and I went back to our humble home on e Manarola hill, showered and went out for dinner and drinks in town. Next to the restaurant we had dinner at the previous night, was a small pub style restaurant and bar. Greeted by a mellow, late night crowd, ad the singing of a local playing guitar, we sat down for two italian beers, a cheese plate,  and two kinds of brochette ( tomato, and eggplant).Some backpackers go through Europe on a budget of Top Ramen, but Katie and I don't know that concept. We can't help to try and eat it all.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. Sitting across from my best friend, listening to Beatle classics, and enjoying some of the finest cuisine, what else could I need?
The time had come- Waking up, and prepping for the hike through the five villages. I was so excited to see it all, and some physical activity, maybe work off a little gelato? We got a good breakfast in, and headed out on one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever been on. Trekking up a mountain, through the vineyards, overlooking the coast,  I couldn't imagine feeling more thankful in that moment. To top it off, half way through, as we walk the windy path, it starts to rain a tropical shower. It's timing was perfect, just enough to cool us off. After one stop for some fresh fruit in Corniglia, and one minor bump in the road( when I lost 15 euros, yes almost  22 dollars), we arrived in the town of Vernanzza. This town was bigger than our quaint home in Manarola, full of tourists, restaurants, and a cover with a beach to lay out at. Of course Katie and I couldn't manage one day in Italy without our dose of gelato, so we decided to cool off and lounge by the cove before heading back to Manarola.
I've discovered that after spending a few days traveling in one location, you become attached to certain things. While staying in Manarola, places, and faces became a temporary familiarity. During the last night of our stay, we spent it sitting and overlooking our town, watching the tourists dine with the locals, and taking in our last few moments along the coast.
Next stop, Fireze!