We wound out way down the mountains of Crovara and San Marco D'Urri reveling in our unique experience, but as we coursed along the river, my thoughts tuned back to fishing and taking this day next level.
As we drove, I kept a look out for a spot to park and access as promising section of the river. We crossed the stream and found a semi-industrial area where it seemed no one would care if I pulled off on the side of the road. Kathi read, while I made my way down to the banks of the river. The river and the surroundings were beautiful. It had been tamed by many damns and was slow moving so I dispelled any notion of Italian trout.
I found a section with faster moving water and a little riffle section. I cast my nymph and let it drift through the section. I saw some fish move around and after a couple of drifts, got a solid strike.
I'm guessing this is perhaps the Italian equivalent of our fall fish. Pretty nonetheless. The Tenkara USA Rhodo is now an international traveler.
I couldn't resist walking upstream...looking around the next corner... and testing the waters. But before too long, I knew I should pack it up and rejoin Kathi for the drive back to Levanto. We stopped for gelato to carry us through the late afternoon drive.
We arrived in Levanto in the late afternoon, checked back into Hotel Oasi. We got a dinner recommendation from the front desk and set out on foot.
We made it to La Tavernetta just as the sunlight was fading. We got a nice candle-lit streetside table for two. Kathi had troffia with pesto and I had paccheri ragu. While we waited for the main course, we received a "house welcome" shrimp cocktail and pineapple with prosciutto primi. We shared a 1/4 liter of house blanco, bread, and finished our meal with some complimentary limoncello and espresso. What a great little restaurant. We love Levanto!
After dinner, we strolled down to the waterfront. Kathi showed me the private beach/swim club she had stumbled across a few days earlier. It's pool glowed in the dark sky.
We continued along the waterfront promenade and down to the harbor looking for some info on a snorkeling outfitter for the next day's adventure.
It was a beautiful, breezy evening and we took our time enjoying the boats, the gentle sea, the twinkling lights, and each other's company.
We circled back to Hotel Oasi, and climbed into bed after a miraculous and magical day.
We steered the car northwest towards the coast - with vistas of Liguria and its sea to our left and the mountains of Tuscany to our right. Slabs of marble lined up in factory lots along the highway announced that and we were driving past Carrera. We passed Sarzana, Ceparana, Posticcio, Brugnato, and then wound our way down through the mountains as dusk began to fall on Levanto.
We checked in at our accommodations at the Oasi Hotel, hid the car in their underground lot, then lugged our suitcases to the room, indulging in a hot shower and change of clothes - so nice!
The
front desk gave us a recommendation for dinner, and as we walked
towards the seaside, we made note of shops we’d like to visit during the daylight hours.
We
had one of the most fantastic meals at the Osteria Tumelin. Kathi and I had the Pennette agli Scampi for two (pennette pasta with tomato sauce, whipped cream, garlic, parsley, and shrimp)
an excellent house vino blanco ...
frizzante, a custard desert, and
espresso - heaven!
Strolling back to the hotel, we floated along
buoyed by our wine buzz, lingered at the town park to listen to the
band playing.
Even at 10:30 or so, there were kids going bizerk in the
bounce house, playing on the swings, and running around while their
parents danced and kissed in the glowing lights. We were enchanted by
Levanto! We decided to come back and spend our itinerary’s “open day”
in and around Levanto.
But now it was time for bed and the comfort of the Oasi Hotel did not disappoint!
