This is Margherita of Savoy, first queen of Italy. She was passionate about the arts and benefactor to many charities. She founded Società del Quartetto  and the Casa di Dante. She sounds like she was a very cool lady, but I must confess, I really like and feel more for her statue than the lady herself!
Located in Liguria, Italy along the coast, her statue sits regally, welcoming you into a fantasy garden that sits on a hill overlooking the sea. The white stone contrasts sharply with the green of the garden in summer and is the first thing your eyes lock on when you round the curve of the road. Statues always make me wonder, but this one in particular captures my imagination as this one in particular represents a woman who had weight and importance in a primarily male dominated society, so much so in fact.., that she has a statue!
Of course the statue is not the only reason to drive the coast..,


The other reason? Bordighera, right up the road! This stunning beach resort makes the trip worth it all by itself.






I think of Bordighera as a resort, but it's actually a town, although I've never actually walked into the town, (It's right behind the buildings!) content to hang out on this boardwalk! But the beachfront as you can see, is so amazing, it becomes the main event.




It's cute little restaurants and shops waterside just make for a very relaxing day, or week if you can afford it, and now perhaps you can because prices have dramatically dropped. If you look at the second photo, you'll see a glaring lack of people. In the height of summer and the tourist season, Bordighera is deserted. Which makes sense for the Italian people thanks to the recession, but what about the foreign tourists? Where are they?
The tourist season was inexplicably terrible this summer. But I have my own suspicions. After seeing the raids, made famous in news reports, and the police stopping Italians to search for evidence of hidden taxes, I think it's just plain put people off. Who wants to vacation in an absolute atmosphere of hostility?  I personally now have more photos taken in France than I do in Italy, because once I cross the border I feel..well..free. Don't get me wrong, I pay my taxes, but to constantly be stopped, sometimes 3 times a week, just makes me dread getting into my car and puts a damper on my Italian exploration, considering I don't even own a boat or a Ferrari. The average person has just stopped spending on anything that might be considered luxurious to avoid drawing attention.The war on taxes trickled down to us normal Jo's, the little guys who never avoided a tax in their lives. As austerity wipes out incomes, the government struggles to find even the smallest amount to add to their coffers. Do I sound a bit bitter? Better stop while I'm ahead!

Nevertheless, all it's political troubles can't take away Italy's extraordinary uniqueness, there is no place like it on earth and I am very lucky to share it's good times as well as bad.

In case you missed all the excitement.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1078504_italians-shed-supercars-as-tax-raids-austerity-measures-continue

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48739278/Yachts_Raided_by_Tax_Authorities_in_Italy

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/06/17/debt-most-deadly-recession-and-austerity-fuel-suicide-in-italy.html