Springtime Bliss in the Italian Riviera
The aroma of warm ocean air mingles with the smell of freshly baked pizza and dances through the streets of this tiny village. Tourists gather along the cliff to soak in the view while they munch on Italian Gelato or sweet crepes oozing with Nutella.
The air feels warm, but a gentle breeze keeps the temperature at a perfect 80 degrees. Sun worshipers sunbathe along the cement walkways and lounge on natural rocks that jut out from shallow waters below. If the sun gets too hot, they simply jump off rocks into the cool, blue-green ocean.
This is my heaven.
I had no idea when booking our trip to Cinque Terre that the weather would be so warm in May. Websites and guidebooks had warned about cloud cover near the coast (something we were running away from in San Diego), but this particular day in Manarola, Italy couldn’t have been more beautiful.
For rent signs hang on doorways that face the ocean and I imagine what it would be like to live here. I realize the devastating floods that recently occurred could quite possibly be the reason for so many vacancies, but it seems like such a peaceful place to live (likely not in winter though).
Even though I’m a sucker for sun-drenched landscapes, I can’t imagine visiting this place during the summer months. I cringe at the thought of swarming people and walkways that are now scattered with lounging people would easily be filled to max capacity.
I’ll keep my springtime bliss and let everyone else have their summer fling in the Italian Riviera.
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