Retired in Rome Journal: Cinque Terre is five beautiful reasons to follow a beaten path
I emerged from under the tiny train station to be greeted by a throng of tourists in shorts of various levels of embarrassment. From surfing trunks the length of Georgetown basketball shorts to the banana hammock briefs favored by aged Europeans and exhibitions, tourists have already flooded this town. Stretching along the lengthy beach are gelaterias with artificially colored ice cream, souvenir shops selling aprons emblazoned with the map of Cinque Terre, waterside bars where glasses carry the neon orange spritz drink so popular with Italians.