We had tickets to fly to Italy from California, September 12, 2001. The 9/11 disaster changed all that. My mother, brother, and daughter had planned to go, and when a week later we were able to fly out, my mother had decided not to.

So it was with great excitement, and some fear, that the three of us left for Venice. We almost immediately boarded the train after reaching Venice, and headed west to our first destination, Monterosso on the Cinque Terre.

We were dragging after 19 hours of travel when we arrived and found our hotel. Because all of our reservations had to be changed, there was some confusion but everyone was very gracious and we were able to get a room. Everyone was very sympathetic because of the 9/11 bombing. We only stayed there 2 nights, because of a proposed train strike we decided to leave a day early to reach Florence our next destination. If I only had one place to return to in Italy it would be the Cinque Terre. We took the boat tour of the other 4 villages. Marvelous, quaint,romantic and timeless. The food is indeed fabulous! The pesto the best I had anywhere in Italy. One place we ordered focaccia which was sold by weight. It was heavenly. And the local wine was mighty fine. But I don't know how those Italians can drink that Limone! After everything that was going on in the US, the uncertainty, staying in Monterosso was the perfect balm, so soothing and peaceful. The historic ambience is amazing. I didn't realize it was a World Heritage Site at the time but having been to others around the world now can certainly attest to its qualifications.