Vernazza- after 5 days beach bumming

This is our favorite of cinque terre's little villages, Vernazza.We had great pizza last night and spoke to some Italians on vacation from Florence who wondered why americans would come all the way here for this and why not go to Florence or Rome because there's nothing to do here. And while it is small, to us it's been a hit of a cultural experience being surrounded by italians on vacation. The food is awesome because it has to please all the italians who are on vacation. We have seen naked babies running from fathers with diapers in their hands, kids screaming and diving into the water, people talking all at once right over eachother, and naked boobs. Not unlike the states, except it is because it all has an italian twist on it.
The beach here is amazing. First of all, it's warm. A culture shock in itself to us New Englanders that go to Hull and other frigid atlantic waters. Secondly, it's light to dark aquamarine blue, a color of pure paradise. Third, THERE ARE NO LIFEGAURDS yelling at you to stop or to move. You can be free and use your on god forsaken common sense. So, we can: swim in the boat lane, swim under boats, and jump off of 10 foot walls into calm water or whitewater smashing rock (whichever strikes the mood). You could swim all the way out to the middle of the sea and no one would stop you. It's bliss.
The only problem is the "medusa", red jellyfish that sting. they came out of no where and lingered fortunately for only one day. I got stung lightly on the hand. Another poor soul got stung bad on the neck. Babies were screaming. It was a ferocious day. Luckily, a 10 year old girl worked all day to fish them out with a net. She made a sickly red jelly pile on the wall, a pulsating mass. ick.
Jon and I did venture to other villages. We hiked to Corneglia, and took the ferry to Riomaggiore. We decided Vernazza was the best especially for swimming. We loved it here and finally, after admiring bronzen bodies and spending for some "burrococoa" (cocobutter tanning lotion) I too am now tan enough to somewhat count.