cinque terre

i was ready for a break after over a week of work travel, so i headed off for a beach weekend in cinque terre. there's something about italy -- it's grungy, the buildings are run-down, trains are late, and i can just barely understand the language -- but i keep going back. obviously, it's the food! for someone who never really liked italian food, i've become quite the pasta lover. and you know how i feel about gelato. so i ate well and enjoyed the stunning coastal beauty of the five towns in the wonderfully uncrowded off-season. the place is probably too small for the hordes that swarm in during the summer, but i would highly recommend it in the spring or fall, and hope to return for a longer stay sometime soon.