My wife asks why I am not paying attention to what she it telling me, and it is hard to explain how inspiration has just taken hold of me. I look down at my untouched food and am reminded that I am in a restaurant within Portofino. I gaze back outside and see the boats gliding across the water, returning home for the evening. The last strokes of sunlight disappear over the buildings and the lights of Portofino begin to take shape.

The villas rise above the water and streets and cast their reflections on the water. I cannot imagine being in a more beautiful place, and as I return to my wife I wonder how such beauty can exist. The beauty of Portofino and its villas will always remain close to my heart as the night draws to a close. - RF