A Rather Serious Update

For those of you who have been following along, and who may have enjoyed my last post on our visit to the Cinque Terre (which, confusingly enough, is somehow posted below our trip to Florence), I have some disturbing news. Last Tuesday, the Cinque Terre area was hit by a tremendous rainstorm and resulting mudslides, which have destroyed much of the quaint little towns we visited. Vernazza, where we had lunch, was especially badly hit, with mud and rocks now filling the streets up to the second story windows. Although there have been a few fatalities reported, it seems much of the populace was able to be evacuated. However, the question still remains as to whether they will be able to dig out and rebuild.

Here's some news stories on the disaster:

http://culturalcomments.blogspot.com/2011/10/disaster-strikes-vernazza.html

http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/cinque-terre-floods.htm