Since K got the story 100% correct, all I will add is that I did indeed plan it this way. I had hoped for a view and a sunset, but when it finally happened, the scene was beyond perfet. Not only did we get the perfect table, we had a 200 foot drop to the breakwaters not a foot from the edge of our table.
Her outburst of disbelief and her momentary laughter shocked me so much, I almost forgot to ask!
the rest of the day was as perfect as our evening capper (the engagement), though we did form some poor opinions of Monterosso. We had decided to take the train to the next town for the purpose of finding a difference beach. After exploring the long boardwalk and eying the many umbrellas shading paired sets of beach chairs, we went to pay for a spot on the beach. The man told us that it would cost 18 euro (about 26 bucks) for 2 chairs or to go to the very small, very crowded free beach at the end of the parking lot. We chose neither, opting to check out the next section of the beach, where a different company operated umbrellas and chairs. The next man told us his umbrella section was all full, despite the fact that there were numerous spaces open.
Suddenly we became acutely aware of the double standard placed on tourists by native Italians.Once they heard our accents (despite conducting all this business in italian), they either doubled the price or did not allow us service at all. For this reason, and because we'd finished reviewing the town of Monterosso, we left only a few hours after arriving.
Back we went to our sanctuary of Vernazza to swim in the familiar waters off the main square.
After a few hours—time really has no meaning to us here—we went home for some rest and reading.
Not to waste the warm evening, we found ourselves on one more short hike that took us to the perfect elevation and vantage point to get a wide shot of the entire main square. Once satisfied, we headed home, yet again to clean up for what would become our proposal dinner!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
She said
We got engaged!!!
Our second night in Cinque Terre (our first full day there), we'd decided that we wanted to have our last dinner with a view at Ristorante Al Castello. Unbeknownst to me, The Chiro was planning on popping the question there because we had both totally fallen in love with Vernazza. Apparently I helped his case by repeatedly asking him to take pictures of the castle every time we went hiking.
The day started off normally enough. We woke up, had a breakfast of pesto pizza (I just can't get enough of this stuff!) and headed over to Monterosso. After deciding that we didn't like the town as much as our beloved Vernazza, we went back to our village to change into swim wear and hit the beach. I tried to put our sunscreen, books, towels and snacks into his backpack, but he said he'd rather just carry everything down there separately. He'd been a little antsy since the night before when we'd had a mini argument over how wide to leave the window to maximize both the breeze and our privacy, so I just shrugged and rolled up our towels and stuck them under my arm. It wasn't worth arguing about, and if he'd rather not take the backpack, what was it to me? (Besides, I'd just make him carry all the other stuff! ha ha)
After a nice few hours swimming and sunning, we dried off, hiked to the overlook point above Vernazza, where we could see the entire lagoon, the town square, and of course Al Castello, and took many photos as the sun turned a delicious golden syrupy color.
It was about time to get ready for our nice dinner out (I actually put makeup on for the first time on the trip) so we headed back to the room to clean up. I had intended to clean up as best I could and have this fancy dinner, but accidentally blew up the transformer (and my curling iron) so had to make do with frizzy wavy hair. I wasn't feeling my prettiest, but then I guess it doesn't really matter when the man you're in love with looks at you like you are a radiant goddess!
We held hands and walked down to the town and up the endless stairs to Al Castello for our eight pm dinner reservations. The Chiro said that we'd had a good run of it and I agreed, saying that once we'd actually arrived in Italy, we'd had a great time. He laughed a little and replied that he'd been talking about US and our relationship. I giggled and agreed that things between us were easy, and wonderful, and the Chiro chose that moment. He looked into my eyes and said, "You know what would be even more wonderful? If you'd accept." Since this was a running joke between us, I quipped back, "Yeah, but you have to ask first" but I didn't really believe that he would.
He paused (almost like a nervous falter) before standing up.
"Well, actually..." he said, reaching into his pocket. He came around the side of the table and dropped to one knee in the narrow walkway between the castle wall and our table.
I chose that moment to burst out laughing, tears rolling down my face, asking, "Is this real? is this really happening?"
I think the laughter threw him a little, especially since I was wearing sunglasses and he couldn't see my eyes, but he proceeded. I don't remember what he said (past, "K, my sweet..." but he tells me that was followed by "...I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?") Apparently I responded, "Yes yes yes. I will marry you, yes," although I don't remember that either.) He handed me the ring, and at that point I still thought it was a joke, a dress rehearsal for the real engagement, a trinket from a gumball machine perhaps (not that it looks plasticene...it's beautiful.)
It still feels surreal. My goodness. We're engaged!
Our second night in Cinque Terre (our first full day there), we'd decided that we wanted to have our last dinner with a view at Ristorante Al Castello. Unbeknownst to me, The Chiro was planning on popping the question there because we had both totally fallen in love with Vernazza. Apparently I helped his case by repeatedly asking him to take pictures of the castle every time we went hiking.
The day started off normally enough. We woke up, had a breakfast of pesto pizza (I just can't get enough of this stuff!) and headed over to Monterosso. After deciding that we didn't like the town as much as our beloved Vernazza, we went back to our village to change into swim wear and hit the beach. I tried to put our sunscreen, books, towels and snacks into his backpack, but he said he'd rather just carry everything down there separately. He'd been a little antsy since the night before when we'd had a mini argument over how wide to leave the window to maximize both the breeze and our privacy, so I just shrugged and rolled up our towels and stuck them under my arm. It wasn't worth arguing about, and if he'd rather not take the backpack, what was it to me? (Besides, I'd just make him carry all the other stuff! ha ha)
After a nice few hours swimming and sunning, we dried off, hiked to the overlook point above Vernazza, where we could see the entire lagoon, the town square, and of course Al Castello, and took many photos as the sun turned a delicious golden syrupy color.
It was about time to get ready for our nice dinner out (I actually put makeup on for the first time on the trip) so we headed back to the room to clean up. I had intended to clean up as best I could and have this fancy dinner, but accidentally blew up the transformer (and my curling iron) so had to make do with frizzy wavy hair. I wasn't feeling my prettiest, but then I guess it doesn't really matter when the man you're in love with looks at you like you are a radiant goddess!
We held hands and walked down to the town and up the endless stairs to Al Castello for our eight pm dinner reservations. The Chiro said that we'd had a good run of it and I agreed, saying that once we'd actually arrived in Italy, we'd had a great time. He laughed a little and replied that he'd been talking about US and our relationship. I giggled and agreed that things between us were easy, and wonderful, and the Chiro chose that moment. He looked into my eyes and said, "You know what would be even more wonderful? If you'd accept." Since this was a running joke between us, I quipped back, "Yeah, but you have to ask first" but I didn't really believe that he would.
He paused (almost like a nervous falter) before standing up.
"Well, actually..." he said, reaching into his pocket. He came around the side of the table and dropped to one knee in the narrow walkway between the castle wall and our table.
I chose that moment to burst out laughing, tears rolling down my face, asking, "Is this real? is this really happening?"
I think the laughter threw him a little, especially since I was wearing sunglasses and he couldn't see my eyes, but he proceeded. I don't remember what he said (past, "K, my sweet..." but he tells me that was followed by "...I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?") Apparently I responded, "Yes yes yes. I will marry you, yes," although I don't remember that either.) He handed me the ring, and at that point I still thought it was a joke, a dress rehearsal for the real engagement, a trinket from a gumball machine perhaps (not that it looks plasticene...it's beautiful.)
It still feels surreal. My goodness. We're engaged!
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