14/04/22: Exploring Cinque Terre

The villages truly are beautiful – steep roads lined with yellow, pink, orange, blue houses, built into the hillside that overlooks a turquoise sea, balconies lined with plants, narrow alleyways paved with smooth terracotta tiles. I am surrounded by the smell of fresh fried fish, as I walk past a gathering of tourists with oily paper cones filled with fried calamari and anchovies. 

I feel slightly withdrawn from the experience, however as I am painfully aware of the heaving crowds, the endless mixed chatter of foreign accents, children shouting. The discomfort is somewhat alleviated by the melodies of Ludovici Einaudi through my earphones. A recurring thought I have during this experience is centred upon the locals who live here, who have to endure this constant bombardment, noise, invasion of privacy.

This experience has been incredibly insightful and has led to personal reflection. Perhaps I find more beauty in calm and quietness, even if my surroundings are less UNESCO world heritage site than the heaving village next door.