After fighting back to the surface from hibernation, lumbering squinty-eyed out of the cave into the bright pollen-filled air, and giving my back a good satisfying scrub against a big tree, I’m ready to take on the Italian primavera.

Easter weekend I met some friends from Charlotte in my longtime fave beach town Monterosso al Mare. On Saturday night we experienced a hellacious thunderstorm complete with house-shaking thunder and riso-sized hail. Sunday dawned crystal clear and warm. Fabulous weekend with old friends (very old!!) :-)  

I stay at Hotel Villa Adriana — highly recommended.  Comfy mattress, terrific breakfast, beautiful grounds with pool and lemon trees, good WiFi.

We had fantastic calamari and pesto at Ristorante Belvedere, right on the waterfront. Reservations are suggested.  

Palm blossoms? 

Beautiful water view

The hillside 

The grounds seen from my balcony 

Last view of the sea from the train station

Pesto and spritz al fresco before I leave