The Five Jewels in Italy’s Crown

I love the Chinque Terra. And what is there not to love. Five quaint villages perched on the top of sheer cliffs painted with a patine of time that makes them look like they were aged to perfection just for us. We walked between the first three villages along the trail that clings to the side of the cliffs like a barnacle to the side of a boat. The weather is still warm during the day, and the light breeze washing over us from the sea keeps us from overheating during our walk. For lunch we stop at a restaurant that has taken over most of a small plaza in the third little village. It appears that if you want to open a restaurant in Europe, all you need is a kitchen. You can then start taking real estate for the tables wherever they fit. Eventually you have enough tables strewned out onto sidewalks and plazas to run a profitable restaurant. In the afternoon we headed to the beach for a swim in the ocean before going on to the fourth village. By then it is time for gelatio and sitting under a colorful umbrella table watching the sun cast a golden warmth to the sides of the buildings. The sky turns ablaze of oranges yellows and purples and the ocean shimmers in response. Kids are drawing their last pictures in the sand and a little kitten looks up to our table hoping for one last scrap. Guess it is time to catch the train back to La Spezia where we berthed our boat.