A wet and grey day today but our spirits were not dampened. Paola had suggested that we drive down to Laigueglia to spend the day remembering the past, seeing our old haunts and enjoying the beauty and serenity of this truly magical and beautiful village by the sea. We have both spent many happy family holidays in this Ligurian seaside village and it holds very many joyful memories for us. We walked along the promenade, the pier and then down through the ancient cobbled pedestrian heart of the village, Via Dante. What I love about Laigueglia is that it has hardly changed at all and so the ghosts of our past are as vivid today as they have ever been. Unfortunately the Pensione Marialina where Paola and her family used to stay has now been converted into appartments so it was sad that she was no longer able to go in and see it how it used to be. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant called the Pinguin (means someone who is finicky apparently)and then called in to Tre Ciuffi Hotel (where I have always stayed when visiting Laigueglia)to see the Garassino family. What a treat it was to see them all and they were all here too. Antonietta, Danilo and Manuela were all down from Milan, Franco, Giovanna, Mario and Marilina were there and Massimo even came round to say "Hi". They are like my second family and so it was very special to see them and to introduce Paola and Paolo to them too at long last. A truly wonderful and memorable day! (photos show Paola and I on the pier and Antonietta, Manuela, Marilina and Giovanna at the door to Tre Ciuffi Hotel).
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