Arrivederci, Vernazza!

We spent our last day in the CinqueTerre in Vernazza, our home base for the past four days. It was Labor Day - a national holiday - even though it fell on Sunday this year (no three-day weekends for the Italians, except Easter weekend.)

Day trippers packed the town and locals hit the beach...or, what there is of it.

I loved this old guy (above) reading his paper on the rocks while his wife soaked up the sun.  And, the family (below) who hung out all day on their beached rowboat.

We shared this incredible seafood risotto for lunch....

and did some souvenir and gifts-for-the-kids shopping. Here I am modeling my new Italian silk & cotton scarf....

The carbs and wine are showing on my face (and everywhere else - food here is bread, pasta and pastries - I had no choice, people!) but it's nothing that 14 days on Atkins won't cure. I hope.

We booked one of the tables on the balcony here at Belforte for our last night....

and who did we meet, dining at the next table, (no, not Rick Steves again) but an army brat named Paul who spent three years of his adolescence in Ft. Riley, Kansas, and still loves the Kansas City Chiefs (bonding him forever to the hubs)...

I took lots of photos to remember the place by, and remind myself of some great party decorating ideas...

like wrapping big potted plants with red-checkered tablecloths or sticking fresh flowers in a bowl of lemons.

I also took lots of pictures of the ubiquitous and colorful clotheslines in Vernazza which I plan to frame and hang in my laundry room.

If only I could take home Vernazza's laid-back people. But, I'm afraid they won't fit into my now not-so-lightly-packed luggage. 'Guess I'll have to come back someday. Ciao, ciao, amici!!