Five Little Fishing Villages

We got off the train yesterday and a friend of Laura's (name= Andy) from A&M met us at the station because he was in town! He spent the afternoon with us yesterday showing us around Riomaggiore, the town we are staying in, and Corniglia. Last night we had a good, somewhat more expensive than we wanted, dinner. This is the place where pesto sauce was invented, so you can count on it being in 95% of their dishes. It's good though. After dinner, the four of us went to the marina where there is a rocky jetty, and climbed out to the end of the rocks. We passed slash broke up some Kissyface McGees as clambered around like the crabs that were clinging to the rocks. I couldn't summon up the courage to get into the water yesterday because the beach was a little boulder-y and hard to manuever. My past beach and lake experiences kept me on the rocks as an on-looker.
Today was different though! Andy left early this morning, and we met up with another of Laura's friends from childhood (name= James) and his friend from college (name= Anan). We went to lunch, and then headed out to Manorossa for a long day at the beach. I swam in the Mediterranean Sea today! The water is very clear. It's an immediate drop-off almost as soon as you are in. This is also a rocky beach, but manageable. More like pebbley. We swam all the way out to a set of underwater boulders, stacked up from the bottom of the sea, and took turns balancing on them. Only one of our group of five cut himself on the rocks. The water feels so good. I'm a beach girl!!! This trip is giving me the most expensive tan of my life. Tonight the boys are talking about cooking a traditional Italian dinner for us in our apartment, but more than likely we'll end up in Vernazza for dinner. We take the train easily between the villages. It's time for my shower. The salt water cakes on you and dries if you don't rinse off as soon as you get out of the sea.
We're taking Paris by storm on Thursday! I can't wait. We bought our train tickets today and they were not as expensive as we thought they'd be. That was good news. I miss everyone so much, and I really am eager to get home even though I'm cherishing my time here. I know I'll be back!