Invitation To Italy, Vignettes-4

Chapter 10 Italian Riviera, to Genoa and Portofino

Génova … In Piazza Lavagna, a Flea Market permits the visitor to browse, bargain and perhaps buy a treasure that may be a century or two, or a week old.

Portofino … hills that surround Portofino on three sides like a Roman theater. The yacht harbor is the stage; the beautiful yachts are the star performers; fishing boats play supporting roles; the row boats are the extras.

Chapter 11 Cinque Terre to Torre Del Lago Puccini

Cinque Terre … So up and up we went, then down and down and around we went, and sure enough there were a dozen RVs obeying Italy’s “traffic hints and suggestions,” parked right under Monterosso’s “No Camping” sign. So we joined them.

Sarzana … “Restaurant Bambi” had an empty parking lot. … The family, … were in the backyard relaxing by a small inflatable swimming pool. With their permission we spent the night. Ah, the convenience of the RV.

Monte Sagro … million tons of marble is waiting for someone to cut and polish. … great big trucks, … held together by bailing wire and duct tape, loaded with tons of marble blocks, barreling down the mountain around the blind curves.

Chapter 12 Pisa and Lucca

Leaning Tower … We were very careful … the marble is extremely slick. … It's a curious feeling to be “drawn” to the lower side of each step, … alternately too steep and too easy. … the stairs reminded us of walking up and down an escalator that is stopped.

Lucca … Those huge buildings, and walls with defensive features, sometimes took hundreds of years to build. But stop to think about it, what else was there to do?

… restaurants (one named “Spartacus”) … boutiques and stores (one named “Mary Poppins”) … In a place where gladiators once fought, people now sit on summer evenings, sip cappuccino, and listen to music.