Walking Travels - Hiking to Burg Eltz (Day 5)

If you want to indulge a love of castles then a visit to Germany is a must. There are tons of castles. Some rebuilt and fully restored others lying in ruin. The one that was top on my list of places to visit was Burg Eltz a castle that is completely intact having never been damaged or destroyed in over 850 years. Not only that but the same family is still living in the castle today and many of the original furnishings are still on display. Pretty amazing!

Burg Eltz is located above the Mosel River between Koblenz and Trier. 

The beautiful Mosel River in Germany.

We could have taken the easy route and rode the free shuttle bus from the car park but what fun is that? So we parked at the bottom and hiked through Eltz forest to the castle. 

It was a nice walk and only took us about an hour. The trail was fairly flat in most parts until we reached the castle and then it was a matter of hoofing it up the hill! Thankfully the trail was mostly in the shade because it was so hot I felt like I was still in Florida. 

(Travel note: Germany is hot in September!)

But the sight of the castle as we rounded the last bend made it all worthwhile.

You can walk all around the castle, the courtyard and the surrounding hills but the only way to see inside is by guided tour. Tours in German run ever 10 minutes and English every 25. Our tour guide was funny and gave an interesting history of the castle. He also informed our group that the next Eltz son in line to inherit the castle was currently single. Several in our group offered up their daughters! I'm not sure I'd want the responsibility of keeping the castle in the family. 

After the hike up and exploring the castle we had to refuel at the outdoor cafe before heading back down to the car. 

Curry bratwurst was on my list of foods to eat on this vacation and happily it was on the menu. And of course we couldn't pass up a little dessert. 

Chocolate and cherries a perfect combination!

All in all it was a great day. A nice hike in the forest, a tour of the castle I wanted to see and dessert. 

Life is good!

For the month of October I'm going to be writing everyday- 

mostly about walking. 

Tips and Tricks for Walking the Cinque Terre - Monterossa to Vernazza

The Cinque Terre (CHINK-weh-Tay-reh) in Italy is a series of five small fishing villages connected by cliff side trails and a railroad line. Walking the trails of this UNESCO World Heritage site offers spectacular high up views of the Ligurian Sea and the jeweled  colored villages below.

The village of Vernazza 

Before heading out be aware of the fact the trails can be haphazardly closed at any given time. Too wet or slippery, a rock slide or trail maintenance is often the cause of these closures. When we were there in November there was only one trail open and that was between Monterossa and Vernazza. All five villages could be visited by train but only these two were accessible by the trail We didn't know this until the morning we bought our tickets at the Levanto train station, To be safe check the website before making plans. 

To check for trail closing click here to visit Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre. You'll find an interactive map showing all the trails in the park system.

You'll Need a Ticket 

We bought our ticket at the train station in Levanto where they have a special window just for the Cinque Terre. Apparently the price can vary depending on what's going on but the day we visited we paid 12 euro for each person to walk the trail with unlimited use of the train. The very nice English speaking agent made it clear that we had to write our full name on the ticket or take a chance on getting fined. We did as we were told but we never saw anyone who looked remotely interested in whether or not we even had a ticket!

A Most Challenging Trail!

I would describe the trail from Monterossa to Vernazz a as very challenging. When you leave Montersossa you'll have to climb a series of stone staircases. Lots of stairs. Not just a few stairs but LOTS OF STAIRS and they go straight UP! At one point the stairs seemed to have no end. All I could think of was the song "Stairway to Heaven". 

Fortunately the stairs ended and we were on a fairly flat trail. (OK sort of flat)

Parts of the trail were very narrow.

We came across a small waterfall and creek and a stone bridge.

Steady climb up on an uneven, rocky trail.

In some places the trail went up and then back down. 

It's time for a snack!

And more uneven, rocky trail...

The trail is quite difficult but if you're in reasonable good health it should be doable. I'm in good health and walk a lot but I'm certainly no athlete and I made it!  Just take your time climbing and enjoy the views, the vineyards, flowers, cactus and the cats. Lots of variety on this trail! 

Looking back on Monterossa

Huge, beautiful cactus growing on the rocky cliffs.

and can you believe it? 

A cat sanctuary on the trail. Complete with houses and food and water! 

We even found a geocache in a small cave on the trail.

And Just in Case

Signs like this are posted at intervals on the trail in case of emergency. Of course you need a cell phone...

WC, toilet, bathroom? Whatever you call it you won't find one on the trail...

The Reward for Our Efforts

Our first view of Vernazza!

Now we just have to get down there...

The trail down into Vernazza didn't have as many stairs as there were coming up from Monterossa. It took us about 2 hours to walk the trail. That included a few stops for photos, to have a snack and to find a couple of geocaches. 

If you're ever in the area don't pass up a chance to walk this trail. The climb is something else but the reward is so worth it. Just to be able to say "I did it!" is a pretty good reward. 

What to Bring

• I wore hiking boots but a good walking shoe would be fine.
• Carry water 
• A little snack might be nice
• Sunscreen and a hat - especially in the summer
• Camera to record all the wonderful sights
• A hiking stick is nice but not necessary

Hiking Punta Levanto - A Cliff Side Trail Along the Ligurian Sea (Bonassola, Italy)

The rail to trail from Levanto to Bonassola was a nice flat trail and easy walking. Once we arrived at the edge of the town of Bonassola we spied a hiking trail that went along the edge of the cliffs. Of course we had to venture up it to see where it went.

Punta Levanto (trail 662) We never figured out the number system but there's probably a map out there that has them all listed. Anyway the trail went up and headed back towards Levanto.

I'll say right away that the rail to trail was easy this trail was not. It was a rocky and root covered trail that went steadily up along the coast. Thank goodness there was a nice handrail between us and the rocks and water below!

This is the end of the trail! It actually continues on the other side of the rock slide but we heeded the warning and stopped here!

Looking at Bonassola

It took us about 40 minutes to hike to the top or tip of the trail. We did make a few stops along the way to take pictures and catch our breath. 

Directions and Tips:

Leave Levanto on the well marked walking/biking trail. As you come out of the last tunnel and reach the outskirts of Bonassola you'll see a small area on your left that has a bench and a trail marker. The marker says Punta Levanto 662. Take the trail. There will be a sign marking the top that says Bonassola with an arrow pointing back the way you came. You can't get lost! I doubt that the path will be cleared to go any further but if it is you'll probably end up back in Levanto.

• Hiking boots and a walking stick would probably be helpful although we had neither and managed just fine. 
• Bring water 
• There are no bathrooms on the trail but there are a few secluded spots in an emergency.
• Take your time and enjoy the views. 

Don't be afraid to get off the main path and discover somewhere new!

Walking the Rail to Trail from Levanto to Bonassola Italy

It seems that all over the world old railroad lines are being re-purposed into walking and biking trails. We found one such trail while visiting Levanto, Italy. It is an unused railroad line that runs along the Ligurian coast and connects the towns of  Levanto, Bonassola and Famura.

The trail is paved and has divided lanes for walkers and bikers. There are several lighted tunnels to walk through along the way.

Me and my favorite guy.

It's an easy, flat trail with plenty of opportunities to view the beautiful Legurian Sea as you walk.

     

View looking back on Levanto

There are several places you can leave the trail and get to the water. It was a little chilly in November but I'm sure in the summer it would be wonderful to dip your feet in the cool, green water. 

Lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore along the way. Josh wanted to check out the many caves craved into the rocks below. Might have to come back in the summer for that.

Me and my other favorite guy.

The trail between Levanto and Bonassola is around 3 miles one way but it's flat and an easy walk. We  took a side trail along the cliffs and then rewarded ourselves by having lunch in Bonassola before heading back.

One of the best ways to explore an area is on foot. There's always fun and interesting things to check out along the way.

This is a short video we took if you'd like to see and hear the sea from the trail.

I wish I could remember what I was telling my son. He's looking at me like "mom, you're crazy"!

Stay tuned for more posts about Italy coming soon!

A to Z Guidebook - Walking the Cinque Terre in Italy

View of Vernazza, Italy from the trail above the town.

Five fishing village make up the Cinque Terre in the Liguria region in north-west Italy.This area is known as the Italian Riviera and the villages are connected by train or on foot by way of  narrow cliff side trails. 

The villages of the Cinque Terre or five lands beginning at the northern most are: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggirore.

We were there in November and although you could visit each village by train the only trail open was between Monterosso and Vernazza. 

Every guidebook I read stated that the trail leaving Monterosso and heading towards Vernazza was the most difficult. But some things you have to experience to really comprehend. It wasn't the worst trail I've walked but it seemed that the climb up was unending!  It helped that there was a series of stone staircases leading up and the reward of seeing Vernazza from the cliff high above the town made the journey worth while. 

The Cinque Terre was one of my most favorite places on our trip to Italy. 

Check out other 'I' places to visit over at Tiffin's A - Z Guidebook.

Greenways of Florida - A.J. Alford Greenway in Tallahassee, Florida

Greenways 

According to Merriam Webster dictionary a Greenway is "a corridor of undeveloped land preserved for recreational use or environmental protection".

Florida is fortunate to have many areas designated as greenways. These areas are typically located in urban settings offering a reprieve from the concrete jungle and traffic of the city. 

A few weeks ago we visited our son and his family in Tallahassee our state's capital. We took a nice long walk at the A. J. Alford Greenway. The greenway sports miles and miles of trails through an oak forest and around a beautiful lake suitable for boating and fishing. It's so strange that less than a half mile off a busy, car infested road you'll find yourself in such a quiet peaceful place. 

You can read about another Greenway we've visited by checking out this post Eagan's Creek Greenway. And you can learn more about Greenways and Trails by visiting Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation.

Lace up and take a walk at one of the many Greenways in Florida. You'll find out quickly that there's more to Florida than Disney World!

Check out other 'G' places to visit...

A Walk Around Munich and A Stop for Chocolate!

We flew into Munich at the beginning of our trip but we didn't stay. We met up with our travel companions, got our rental car and hit the road. At the end of our journey we decided to spend the last full day exploring the city. 

An excellent way to see a city is to walk. We used the self guided walking tour in Rick Steves' Germany guidebook. Complete with maps, history and directions you can't really go wrong. 

It was hard to resist all the good food in the Viktualienmarkt.  This open air market boosts vendors stocking cheese and olives, fruit, veggies, breads and confections. 

We passed up the sweets in the market but then we found the Milka store. 

This store was massive. The shelves below show just a small portion of the Milka candy available. We brought quite a bit home with us!

And of course we had to make it to the Marienplatz in time to see and hear the glockenspiel do it's thing. You can watch the jousters daily at 11:00 and noon. 

We had to do the tourist thing and stop for lunch at the Hofbräuhaus. So much fun and the food and beer was really good. 

Time for a walk in the Hofgarten. A lovely park with a 400 year old Renaissance-style gazebo. The day we visited a street performer was playing a baby grand piano for tips. Apparently the acoustics are top rated. 

Munich is a thriving city full of history, beautiful churches and wonderful food. This was just a small sampling of all the Munich has to offer. 

Triberg Waterfall Germany

At 500 feet Triberg Waterfall in the town of Triberg is Germany's highest falls and probably one of the prettiest. To enjoy the falls be sure you have on good nonskid boots or shoes and be prepared to walk UP! 

You can park at Scheffelplatz entrance and it's a 5 minute downhill walk. Or do like we did and park in the center of the town at Haupteingang and walk up. According to the sign it's a 2 minute walk. Not sure about that. When your huffing and puffing your way up it seems a lot farther. 

But well worth the effort!

Our band of happy travelers. 

Into the Black Forest

From the top of the waterfall we took the trail through the woods. 

This is in my mind what the Black Forest should look like. Dark and damp with large rocks covered in moss. I can just see Little Red Riding Hood walking this path with her basket of goodies while the wolf lurks behind a tree. 

A bird we encountered on the trail. I've never seen one like this. All grey with some white, black and a touch of blue on his wing. The bird was about 8" long. Anyone know what kind of bird this is?

From the very top of the trail looking down. 

The Triberg Waterfall will cost you € 3,50 a person but it's well worth the cost. 

If you don't want to pay you can see a glimpse of the falls through the trees near the lower entrance. 

But why do that?

 Pay the money, lace up your shoes and take a walk!