Use Your Senses!

Textures in Cinque Terre

While in Camogli and Cinque Terre, beach towns on the Italian Riviera, we were asked to pay special attention to our surroundings and look for colors and textures in unexpected places/contexts.
Giving an honest attempt at this notion of a higher state of consciousness, I became aware not only of the full array of colors and textures surrounding me but also the noises, smells, and tactile nature of things I came into contact with. It was a great learning opportunity and created for me a much richer experience.

Colors in Camogli

No Reservations

Vernazza

Today was a day that will go down in the books (or at least my book).
I ventured out with some classmates to the Cinque Terre, a remote chunk of the Italian Riviera, and for the first time since getting to Italy, we were on our own. There were no reservations, no pre-bought tickets, no deadlines that we had to meet, and no watchful eyes. Everything that we accomplished was on our own terms. I've been aware on the day trips and big trips that we've taken as a class that I was being taken care of but today, it really sunk in; I'm growing up! We successfully navigated through the five towns (with the help of Rick Steves), caught all of the right trains and buses, and enjoyed a day in the sun.