Cinque Terre!

Not much to say about where I'm staying (Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five villages) other than it is stunning. It's also a hell of a workout. As these villages are essentially built into the side of a cliff, there are steep hills and stairs everywhere. I'm definitely getting in better shape (if not losing weight, see pasta and gelato) with all this wandering about. I would never have made it up as many stairs in one shot when I arrived last week as I can now. Still overheating with the effort, though. I have become that person who wears the souvenir t-shirt while still on the vacation in which it was purchased.  I have always mocked such people in DC, but now I am one of them. I just didn't bring enough short-sleeve shirts and I'm certainly not going to buy nice shirts here, so I'm wearing a 5€ Florence shirt today.  I just wish I wasn't hauling around 6 long-sleeve shirts I haven't worn!  That's life.  I've had worse problems.  :) Views from my amazing room....