Vernazza Sunset, by Robert Finale

As I gaze at the cliff side towering over a field of a green cactus, an ancient village comes into view. It is the village of Vernazza, hugging the Mediterranean side of the coast of Italy like a mother to her child.

Looking over the horizon, I notice a breathtaking warm glow, as the sunset settles over the spectacle before me. As the sunlight retreats into the distance, the village lights start to blossom into a radiant beauty before me, enough to turn the village lagoon a beautiful emerald green.

The buildings bathed in the last traces of sunlight inspire me with a palette of vivid color that only seems possible in a gripping fantasy spun at a child’s bedside.

As this thought takes hold, I notice an array of fishing boats bringing their catches home to their eager families, before settling for the night.

As the church bells start to ring, I catch myself thinking of what new adventures await us in this gorgeous escape, making our way down the path to find our own share of the bounties of the sea.