Portovenere, Italy

Early morning view across the water from Portovenere to Lerici, Italy. Lerici is home of the castle that inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein. Never got close enough to get a good shot of it to share, though.



While provisioning for the boat, we got to partake in the active morning markets in Portovenere. Again, the produce here is amazing. The grapes were unreal.



The market sets up along the street and includes vendors roasting chickens and shop keepers selling their wares. Here the woman manning the cheese booth interacts with the little girl in line in front of me after handing her a fistful of cheese. We got focaccia bread at this stand that had to have been the best I've ever had.



The locals here were fun to watch. I loved how quaint and real the markets are. It seems to be a big social event to come pick out your daily produce and chat with your friends, neighbors and the shop keepers. You just know those carrots and vegetables are going to be carried home and become dinner.



Just up the way from the marina looms the striped church of St. Peter.



Walking up the stairway, the large windows in the stone walls offer a view below.



Here you can walk down to Lord Byron's Grotto where the waves crash upon the rocks. The Gulf of the Poets was really quite mesmerizing. Very inspiring. About five minutes after I took this picture the rain picked up and the people scattered. The rain only lasted a minute before the skies cleared once again.



I felt like a fool grinning to myself while wandering the back alleys of this town. With the buzz of the cicadas and the passing summer storm, I was high on life while exploring on my afternoon break.




I climbed up the hill past the church and stumbled upon a graveyard overlooking the sea.




What a view for a final resting place. It was so peaceful and serene.



Looking back down onto the striped church and Bryon's Grotto from the graveyard. The "Venere" part of Portovenere comes from the temple for the goddess Venus that was in the spot where the church stands today. Portovenere has certainly been one of the highlights of my trip. I think I'm in love with the Italian Riviera!