Buongiorno

Italians have taste. Literally, in terms of food, but also in other areas like architecture and fashion. It reminds me how Dutch culture barely has taste, especially when it comes to food. Even pesto from the supermarket tastes ten times better than what we have.

Italians have an opinion. Maybe having taste is a prerequisite for having an opinion.

We figured out a hiking route along the coast of Portofino. Halfway we had lunch at this beautiful place called Rifugio L'Eremo. When we about the route we had planned, the waitress told us not to take that route. There was no discussion. "It's a boring route," she said, and she showed us the route we should take. We listened and she was right.

Many of the places we've been to here aren't gentrified. It could be that we've just been to smaller places, but it's a delight to not see a specialty coffee place with cinnamon buns for a while. A lot of restaurants seem pretty authentic to me.

Mosquitoes must be the worst animals on the planet. Apart from being the number one cause of death worldwide, these tiny little things can keep you awake all night and ruin your day.

There's this beautiful type of flower that you see everywhere here: the bougainvillea. It has this vivid purple color and grows beautifully over every balcony of every building.

The experience of driving somewhere is vastly different from flying. Even though the car does the work, the time and space add to the experience of travel.

And last but not least, I'm reminded how the best way forward is to do things. Even when you don't feel like it, or when it feels like going somewhere or asking something is a hassle.