Saturday, April 21, 2007

Switzerland - Italy 2001 (1)

Hello gang! I can't write much, I don't think right now cause I am plum tuckered. Thanks for the message sagain. Everyone that wrote from SLC was so excited about the onset of fall weather! It seemed like maybe you all wrote on the same day. I'm sad to remember that I won't get to see a Utah autumn this year, but I think this Italian and Portuguese one will do me just right.

Right now I am in Vernazza, which is one of the five towns which comprise Cinque Terre. It is quite impressive! The towns are close enough to hike between. They sit high on hillsides, spiralling up and down to churches or light towers. It reminds me of some of the towns in Provence, but these sit right over the water... constant surges of power from the ocean beating against the rocky cliffs that the towns sit on or between. You should pop onto the internet and look up Cinque Terre. The towns are Riomaggiore (which is where we are renting our own little apartment.. 6 of us, we picked up a Jersey boy.),Vernazza with its great little harbor and wonderful sunbathing rocks and small diving rocks.. that's what we did all day. I'm so tired mainly cause I've been swimming around in the harbor back and forth to the jumping rocks.. with a diving mask on.. I nearly had the buhjeezus scared out of me when I looked into a school of sparkly fish.... next town... (they're not in order actually..), Corneglia, where we had the best latte macchiato and marvelled at the great narrow cobbles streets and colorful buildings... and then Montarola which has spectacular views, a great swimming hole and loads of its own colors.. and finally Monterosso which has the nicest of the beaches, sandy, big and right under the center of the town.

These towns are seriously small and so full of color, culture and pride. From one you can usually see the other four. The hike between the five is not so strenuous, just the occasional up, up, up. We did the hike in 6 hours with a cappacino break, a shopping break, a restock of film and of course lots of photo ops. I am mainly taking slides so I will have them to show on someone's wall when I get back to all of my US hometowns and those of my pals. Last night we chilled in our own little town after having an early supper in Monterosso.. great pizza, pasta and wine.. what else in Italy?

Well, while chillin' we managed to get a bit loopy and stormed the town with fervent energy! Not disgraceful, just fun. We sat on these old stairs by the water and roared with laughter as the waves came in sets and crashed over the nearby rocks, spraying us randomly and unexpectedly. It was beautiful. Our apartment is great. It's part of the landlord's home, with a kitchen, bath, and basic beds... just enough. From here, I may go with Beth, NY, to Portugal to meet up with some of her friends.

I am no longer meeting Doug in Nice to go to Sardigna as his plans have changed a bit, so I will probably go on my own.... although, I know have the wonderful opportunity to to go to Morroco with a new travel friend. I also met an African guy last night... a guy from northern Africa... Tunisia? and I may get some beta from him.. but like everything else on this crazy overstocked journey, who knows?! All I know for now and for certain is that I am so hungry,we have the grubbin' to cook and the wine to drink and that is where I am heading!

Until later.... I miss everyone and I hope you're all doing great! Ciao bellas.

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