Cinque Terre …

This place is already blowing my mind and I have yet to set foot outside in the sunlight. Our room overlooks the Mediterranean sea with huge cliffs setting the tone towering over crystalline green waters that lap up against the sandy shore just below our window. The same white sand shore from which fisherman, often singing or bantering with the other fisherman, launch their small wooden fishing boats to begin the days harvest. Meanwhile we prepare ourselves for a day of hiking and sight seeing, setting off from a small town where cars aren’t even allowed beyond the mere one that does official town business.

Later: Today we romped between small towns tucked into the cliff side. Although at one point a landslide kept us from the trail the whole way, the most uttered words were INCREDIBLE, Unbelievable, and “Oh-My-God” (followed closely by a “look at that!”). The water was clear to the bottom even from 250 meters up where we at times crossed the cliffs via a one-person wide trail. The vibrant blues radiated in all lines of sight minus the vibrant greens from the terraced hillsides covered in pines trees and vineyards. I couldn’t help but think of those not with Christina and I to share in the breathtaking panoramas.. because the word vista just doesn't capture the inescapable beauty in all directions. As if the natural and man-made beauty were not enough, the towns emanated savory smells of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, oreganos and basils, baking foccacia, and their prized pesto. Essentially what I’m trying to say is that I was afflicted by an unbearable insatiable appetite for the entire day. Nonetheless, it received welcome respites through the day from fresh fruits, prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches, and pesto pizza. As well of a couple samples of limoncello, cream & limón, and melon liqueurs.

That was my first day in Cinque Terre, and the reactions that followed.