By the sea in Italy: the beauty of the journey

Monterossa - by the sea in Italy.

Monterossa, furthest north seaside village of the Cinque Terre, is a large resort town with a sprawling beach and a once legendary reputation for drawing movie stars.

For us, Monterossa was a beauty that was best enjoyed in the journey.

After visiting all four of the other seaside villages, what wonders would Monterossa reward us with that Sunday morning? From afar, it was idyllic. Glamorous. Beautiful and grand. Yet, uniquely Cinque Terre. And the two hour hike there was unforgettable!

Our hike wandered through sun-soaked vineyards, providing breath-taking vistas and treacherous climbs.

Along the pathway, we edged the Mediterranean from dangling precipices and plunged deep into the hillside olive groves.

The hike had everything you would want. Climbs, plunges, views, sun, shade, variety, challenges, rewards. It was a journey that delighted one minute and threatened in the next.

At times, the pathway narrowed to a mere 10 inches. Dangerous enough when all the hikers were going in one direction. Fairly impossible when hikers approached from the other direction. Maneuvering some of those crevices became a focal point. A matter of safely surviving the trail.

One high point was crossing paths with two college-age girls, walking arm-in-arm and singing joyfully (in English!)with their praise music: "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the mountains. Your faithfulness stretches to the sky."

Finally, we arrived in Monterossa. We searched for our expected reward, an Italian gelato! But none were to be found.

We settled for a refreshing lemon granita and wandered Monterossa in hopes of discovering its special charm.

Unfortunately, the beaches, though beautiful, were over-crowded and uninviting. The layout of the city was more modern and less charming than the other villages. It felt less friendly, too.

After a very brief visit, we took the train back to Vernazza and reflected on the best part of our day--the hike to Monterossa.

In reflection, it was a good reminder that beauty perceived only from afar can be deceptive. True beauty is found when one gets past the distant image and examines the heart or essence of the person or place.

And sometimes, the journey can be more beautiful than the destination.