Italian drivers, don’t you love’em?  I do, but then I’m used to them and as my sister in law said “you drive like an Italian!” This was probably dangerous as I was driving in Melbourne after 20 years absence!

But this is not about their driving; it’s about their brilliant, creative parking methods as well. And as you saunter around the little villages of the Cinque Terre you’ll find they park their boats the same way….bumper to bumper.

The photos are from the summertime, and when the sea is rough the colourful  fishing boats are hauled up, away from danger to fill the piazza and the main streets with the same nonchalance that they would use if parking a car. The space is limited and it’s bumper to bumper. The rest of the day is then spent watching the waves crash over the barrier!And even when the sea is not rough the boats line the street or sit close to the water’s edge ready to slip in for another days’ fishing or make a handy spot for the local cats to preen themselves and soak up the sunshine.

Those who don’t fish on a daily basis, take the boat home and as there’s no garage, park it on the terrace!

Or creatively use the shark boat as a scarecrow (?? ) near my little village of San Bernardino. I have my doubts as to how effective that is!

Wherever they park, these delightful boats are as much are part of the beauty of the villages as the mottled tower houses that keep a watchful eye on them.

All this talk of fishing boats has made me hungry, time to join my friends for lunch!

Ps You will notice I have been playing with a new “like” button below as some of my family and friends don’t “do” facebook, which is fair enough and I would love to get more feedback. Note you will be caught out if you “like” more than once, as I was, testing the button! I have also included a “send” button in case you want to send the post onto friends. So if you have read this far then…go for it press a button or write a comment!!