From Florence to Vernazza~ Cinque Terre'~

From Florence on to Vernazza, Cinque Terre'~ the Five Lands ~ The villages, like jewels spill into the sea~
Our little vacation from our travels~
Comfortable walking down the strada, enjoying the passeggaiata every evening. Meandering between other tourists that were drawn to this beautiful piece of Italian coastline~
Every evening we sat at the harbor on the rocks and watched the sun sink into the blue Ligurian Sea~ The crowd's applause for yet another glorious October day, more like summer than autumn.
Swimming in the silky sea lifted by the bouyancy of the salt content, I was so happy to be able to experience the feel of the water and enjoy the refreshing coolness after lounging on the small harbor beach as the children spalshed and played in the sand building sand castles.
Hiking the trail and enjoying the vistas of the distant towns beyond, enjoying the beautiful aquamarine color of the clear water, and to be back in a place that surroundes us so comfortably~
The community of citizens living in these five lands, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Cornigilia, Vernazza, Montorosso al Mare, continue on with their everyday life and work, mixed in with the hustle and bustle of gawking, camera toteing tourists, rambling through the back lanes behind the Monolith buildings edging the piazza~ if one dosen't wander or snoop, one does not know the inner working of the village, and as we wander, it does not seem to bother them that we are trying to get a peek into their lives, wishing to become part of their "big happy family".
For me it's pictures, pictures, pictures~ Colors, shapes, what's in the shadows, on the doorstep, up the sweeping steep stairs that take you to the top of the village~The laundry~hanging, socks, underware, pants, towels, and sheets stretched across the back alley lanes from building to building~ enchanting~ Just what is needed for intrest in a photo~
We had a lovely restful time with a beautiful view on the piazza looking over the colored umbrellas at casa Lilli, in the raspberry building with the green shutters!