I am beginning to feel like the only person who had never heard of Cinque Terre. This is the name for the 5 villages on the rugged rocky portion of the Italian Rivera. My yoga retreat group had a day planned in Cinque Terra which involved an extensive 3 hour, steep incline hike between two of the villages. I knew there was no way I could handle that. I can walk for hours on end on flat terrain, hills are my chubby asthmatic nightmare. Yet.... I LOVE anything to do with the water and was anxious to see this part of the rivera. My friends were delighted and encouraged me to come and assured me there would be lots of photo opportunities for me while they hiked. The train I was told was super easy. All true. I was in heaven wandering around and photographing the seaside and especially the seaside homes while the others hiked. We met up for lunch a very easy and inexpensive 4 euro train ride away.

Our fearless yoga leaders Savonn and Kari.

What fun it was to end our magnificent day in this amazing spot with a swim in the Mediterranean. This was my first time swimming in this sea and I've thrown up my arms in pure JOY!