Deiva Marina, Sunkissed

I'm mostly a solo traveler. But that summer I was with my friends and one day we all had a big fight. Probably a cabin fever or something... But that's okay. In words of my favorite movie character:

If you want to have people's trust, you have to be honest. Even if it means telling a self-righteous windbag that their breath smells like a cesspool.

So we all spoke our truths that evening (nobody's breath smelled bad) and then I went for a walk. Alone.

We were in a quiet place on the Italian Riviera hugged by green peaks and washed with warm Mediterranean waters – in Deiva Marina.

Chef's kiss

Deiva Marina is one of the most beautiful villages of Italy (and not just from my POV - see for yourself at I borghi più belli d'Italia). You don't have to decide here whether you prefer beach or mountains. Deiva Marina is combination of both and it's a chef's kiss. The beach enclosed by surrounding mountains is somehow cozier. And mountains overlooking the sea are even more breathtaking. As if that was even possible. But yes, it is.

Sunkissed nose. Sandy toes

Nearby is the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can easily reach the beautiful and even more famous Portofino.

Blah, blah, blah... you know what? Damn UNESCO. I'll tell you something. I like solo travels and I don't mind being alone, but after all, everyone feels miserable sometimes. But when I went for a lonely walk that evening, I felt happy. And alive! Not only because of argument with my friends (ha-ha), but because I appreciated where I found myself. The place where:

I could watch the sunset from a bench on the pier. The sea was calm, the sky so clear.

Only waves broke the silence. I was free! Their rhythm felt like home to me.

Our host Giuliana, sweet and kind, told us the best we’d find – a pizza place, a hidden gem. Yum!

The waitress explained the difference between classico and frizzante with such style, that it is still our gesture for choosing wine. And the reason why we smile.

The village looks like from movie frame, my Mini joined the charming game.

I sipped Italian coffee, heard bells ringing. I love it! Their echo in the air still clinging.

Beneath the parasol, I read and rest, so close to waves, I felt blessed.

I wandered down the shore for hours, collecting shells like ocean flowers.

I wandered where the warm tide flows... with sunkissed nose and sandy toes.

Okay, the last one is a little lie. In Deiva Marina there is no sand, but pebbles. Pebbles heated by the Italian sun. And on the way from the sea to the sunbed, you will jump from shade to shade like a frog from lily pad to lily pad.

Wanna jump too? Enjoy! With love, Vi. ❤︎