Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Italian Riviera Coastline

After dropping Jamie off at the train station, we had to have some lunch to fuel up for a long day ahead. We popped into Michele's family's house on the coast for some pasta and some vista viewing. Quite the sight, non?



An early picture of Michele's mum in her home overlooking the sea...



When my cousin and her boyfriend suggested a relaxing walk a few hours before the New Years Eve festivities began, I was more than hesitant. I was exhausted, having shoved Jamie on a train mere moments before, and all I could think of was returning to bed to sleep for another six hours.

Alas, some vacations do not allow for that kind of flexibility, so we were off. Back to the apartment to get ready for the party, and then off to the coast for what turned into a two-hour walk.

It was beautiful and I'm glad now, looking back, that I got to see this little slice of heaven.

In the city, near the coast, people hanging out their laundry...washing it one last time in 2010.






At last, we arrived. Apparently flats in this neighbourhood sell for over a million Euro. Can you imagine?



Looking back, as the sun hit the port...



...and lit up the coastline.





I knew I'd find a few lovers in love. Twas the day for it.





The fam. On the Riviera. La Dolce Vita, non?



I love a good bench.

And a good couple of lovers in love.







Look at the colour of this photograph! I'm in love.



Loving those red orbs. Mum will probably like them too ;)



There were some sea worshipers dressed in red, touching the ocean with their bare feet (not bear feet...those are something entirely different). I imagined they were meditating about the end of one year flowing into the start of the next. Just another weekend...just another year. They were amazing.



Most of the Italians, including my cousin, thought they were nuts...



...I just thought it was rather ethereal. Surreal. Calm.



Just a wall, you say? Ah no.

It was an old wall with a lot of life
...and a lot of sunshine.



Martina and Michele, schmoozing...







All in all, it was a pretty fantastic way to spend the last few hours of daylight on New Years Eve.



We went to Michele father's house for a house party to ring in 2011. There were ten of us all together, talking about being a young professional, eating party food, talking to loved ones on the phone, drinking, laughing. I recalled the year that was about to end...thought I had made a pretty good stab at making 2010 the best year I could have. Hoped that the coming year...and what a concept that is: 365 days to make a start, a change, a difference: a bit intimidating, non? ...would bring as much unexpected joy as the last 52 weeks did.

Italy celebrates the New Year with fireworks. And my camera happens to have a wicked awesome fireworks setting. It's all good in the hood, if you ask me.






Happy New Year, my lovlies.

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