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Gia-Gina Across the Pond

So I've decided to follow my husband to his native Italy. Follow our adventures as we eat, drink, travel, adapt to and explore this remarkable country. Part food blog, part photo blog but mostly my rants and raves. After our two years in Italy, we relocated across the Atlantic "pond" and are back in the States.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Celle Ligure (Chell-eh) (League-goo-rhee-eh)

Yesterday we were invited by a few friends to join them for a day at the beach. I was excited to go but not too excited to battle the crowds for a space to lay my beach towel. When we finally got to the beach, Deme and I were pleasantly surprised, he had never been to Celle Ligure either.

Many of the beaches in Italy look like this, crowded, over run with people looking for a space to lie down and take in some sun. The Italian Riviera IS all it's cracked up to be, with warm gorgeous blue-green water and breathtaking sights on and off the beach. Usually there are amenities near by like cash machines, a tobacco shop and plenty of food to be found.

The beaches in Italy are generally free and open to the public but if you want a beach chair and an umbrella, it will cost you around 10 Euros. Many places are first-come-first-serve but you can also call to reserve a chair and umbrella. Most "beaches" come complete with a restroom, changing area, lockers, bar, free cold shower (you have to pay for a hot one), life guard and some equipment rentals. Thank you to Rossella for reserving three chairs for us and for to Marco D. for inviting us. A great time was had by all.

The beach we were lucky enough to get places at is pictured below. There was a roped off shallow sandy cove for kids to play in but right around the corner was a rocky outcropping that was teeming with fish! The water was wonderfully clear, even at 10 feet or more I could still see the rocks below. We lucked out! This particular beach is called a "lido", where there are decks made of wood and paved concrete areas where beach chairs and umbrella were placed. The lifeguard helped me to position my umbrella and after a short swim I was ready to take in some sun.

Here I am doing just that.

Giordano (our nephew) listens to an I-pod and acts cool.

After a light lunch at the bar we, Giordano and I head out to snorkel and swim. (Deme is not much of a swimmer and I am from Guam remember.) We circumnavigated the cove in search of fish and other marine life. There were crabs, sea anemones, plenty of fish and sea urchins! We borrowed a discarded net and snagged one. At first Giordano was weary about picking up the urchin with his bear hands but after my example, he held it proudly for a photo. The snorkeling really reminded me of Guam.

Deme eats a sandwich I made and of course is playing with something technological.

*I really had a nice day and it was the first time I swam while pregnant. I think I might have pulled a groin muscle by diving and swimming too strenuously but I was glad for a day at the beach nevertheless.

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1 Comments:

At 6:10 PM, Blogger Artificer said...

Wow! I find it very interesting that you are living in Italy. I do want to ask, is the lifestyle there as I hear? Laid back, family-focused, friendlier? Do employees really get more time off/vacation time than Americans? Is the WINE as good as I hear?

Are you not afraid of sharing your photos and personal information on the internet? My first name is personal enough for me not to share it.

Read my blog (http://cutndry.blogspot.com), if you will. I think you will like it.

 

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