Genoa

This is the first we have been on a cruise that stopped in Genoa.  However we did spend just under a week here with friends a few years ago.  

We were delayed due to pier not being open for us and the Captain announced that he would be extending our stay here until 8 pm.  

Genoa has the best focaccia!  They are know for it, oh and pesto!  We walk (about 20 min) to our favorite bakery.  

I pick up a slice each, one with onions, and one with olives.  We sit on the steps of the cathedral and enjoy them, while people watch.  And Bernie even ends up playing with a little boy who is enjoying the steps too.

We go into the cathedral and our breath is taken away at the beauty and look at all this marble. 

We start walking, exploring all the little streets, embracing the atmosphere.

We stop for coffee and later for gelato.

The key is to just explore!  Go down that street, check out those cute shops, walk thru the markets. 

Here is the old gate to the city.

And Christopher Columbus' home.

We are so exhausted.  We have logged 22,000 steps.

Travelling to Florence

We wake and pack up.  Today we are travelling to Florence. When searching for options for transport to Florence we had a few options.  I knew driving would not be one of them. In fact driving here scares the crap out of me.

Train travel was a definite option but would require changing trains in Pisa. Federico had mentioned that they often use a bus service called Flixbus that operates all over Europe.  Very reasonable rates, nice buses, free wifi and frequent service. 

We say goodbye -- it is sad, we will really miss these guys.

Andrea drives us to the pick up spot for the bus and we say goodbye. Andrea is a lovely man and I am so glad Federico has found him.

We catch the 10 am Flixbus to Florence - total cost 9.50 E each.The ride takes three hours but very comfortable. The route is direct and at 1300 we arrive right near the train station in Florence.

Dragging our suitcases along the narrow Florence streets packed with locals and tourists is not easy but thankfully we packed light and we are able to each manage one of the bags and Bernie also handles the small roller bag, but it is still a game of frogger.  

Our accommodations are not far - around a five minute walk from the train station. We booked our accommodations thru AirBnB.  This is the first time we have used this service, so lets see how it goes.

If you want to try them out and receive a travel credit of $40 Canadian click here and sign up and when you do your first trip you will get the discount.

We arrive and after some scrambling thru papers for five minutes because darn where did I write which apartment it was (there are three to choose from and I don't want to buzz the wrong one).  

The location is perfect - one block from the market, five blocks from the train station, we can walk everywhere.  It is close enough to all the sites but on a quiet street that is lined with scooter parking.  

The building is a four story with an apartment on each level.  Our apartment thankfully is on the second floor so only one flight of stairs to go up. 

We meet up with host Sabrina and her son who shows us the apartment.  We are early - check in was 1400 but we were told it would be okay to drop our bags and get the key while they cleaned up. Sabrina is still busy cleaning up from the previous guest and she keeps apologizing that the place is not ready.  Oh no don't be sorry we are early.  Her English is minimal but she tries hard, and we feel bad we don't speak more Italian; however her son speaks excellent English as I fumble with the few words I know. Remember I am in Italy, they speak Italian, I don't expect them to know my language but am grateful when they know some English and appreciate when they listen to my butchered Italian.

The apartment is exactly like the pictures online. A one bedroom with lots of storage, large modern bathroom, large kitchen with all the necessary items we need (oh a toaster was missed), living room, dining area, fast wifi and huge tv. Bernie is excited and I even catch him watching Italian shows at times throughout our stay - he must really miss tv.

Sabrina welcomes us and offers us a bottle of local Chianti and a bowl of pomegranates that come from their farm. Wow pomegranates one of my favorites and so fresh!

Note we need to pay the tourist tax that is common throughout Italy at all accommodations (paid it last year too).  It is due in cash and is 3 E per person per day.

We get a bit settled and then head out for a quick bite to eat.  We don't go far before we spot a pizza place just around the corner - Simbiosi is the name.  It serves locally sourced items that are fresh - in fact the signs all over the restaurant state the food item and where it is from and when it was produced.  

Wine, pizza, what more do you we need!  We are happy.  

Oh well one thing we need is a nap.  We are tired, and we can both tell our patience is wearing down. We need to buy some groceries first. One great thing about having the apartment is we can make breakfast each morning and get something for some light snacks in the afternoon. 

A small grocery store is right across from the restaurant (note you won't find the big American type groceries stores here).  We pick up some cereal, milk, juice, fruit, cheese and we are good.  No we need --- Wine!  But right across the street from our apartment is one of the local wine producers.  You know the kind we like - were you bring your bottle and they fill it up.  We buy two bottles and fill them up with some of their house wines.

Back at the apartment we both crash.  After a good two hour nap we wake feeling refreshed.  

Portifino and Rapallo For the Day

Today Andrea has taken the day off and both he and Federico are taking us to Protifino and Rapallo for the day. Wow - this is an added bonus.

Portifino is about a half hour from Genoa.  Travelling along the coast the roads are narrow and busy. But not crazy.  I would really hate to see this area in the summer when the tourist are here and ships are in port.

Since I really didn't have any idea we would be going here I really had no idea what to expect.  Sure I had heard of Portifino and the area.  I had heard it is very beautiful.  I had no idea how small it is.  It is really a hamlet.  

We arrive in town and we park in the parking garage.  How they manage to build a parking garage here is beyond me. Thank goodness Andrea is a great driver and is use to these narrow roads and even narrower parking garages.

We walk along the water.  People are busy having a coffee, talking with locals, and tourists are shopping.

One thing I have forgotten to mention is this whole area is known for focaccia bread.  When we first arrived in Genoa we stopped at one of the many focaccia bakeries.  Oh my God!  To have it warm! Well each day we stop and get fresh focaccia for the meal.  And once in Portifino we stop at the local focaccia bakery and buy focaccia to enjoy as a snack. Note once we left the area we no longer found these focaccia bakeries - not in Florence, Rome or elsewhere.  Or maybe I was just missing them (probably a good thing).

We climb the hill which is park of the original Roman road system up to the Church of San Giorgio. The views are stunning.

We stop and enjoy a great meal of pizza and wine of course - are you noticing a theme with each meal.

I enjoyed Portifino but there is not a whole lot here.  If you visit I encourage you to venture out to the other towns of Santa Margherita and Rapallo.

After two hours we are back in the car heading South.  We drive thru the lovely town of Santa Margherita but we keep going.

Federico and Bernie saving the parking spot

Our destination is the next town of Rapallo which is 10 km from Portifino.  Rapallo is a fair size town that hugs the sea. The beautiful sea walk goes on forever.  We walk hand in hand (Bernie and I) and we both comment that we can't believe we are here.  I am so happy.

A few streets from the sea is the main shopping area.  I spot a cardigan!  See I lost my favorite cardigan a few years ago when I departed the Grand Princess.  Since then I haven't found an everyday cardigan.  This one is perfect and the price is right so I buy it.  My only souvenir of the trip it ends up being but one I will use for a long time (unless of course I leave it on another ship).

We stop for gelato.  Here Federico lets us in on his favorite gelato dessert.  Two shots of espresso over two scoops of vanilla gelato.  Oh my - ends up Bernie will remember this for the cruise. I get a dish of mango fruit covered in gelato then whip cream!  

More walking and admiring the city - stop again - this time for espresso!  Gee I could get use to this life.  But note this was over the course of the entire afternoon.

On the drive back to Genoa I am having a hard time staying awake. 

Once home we enjoy a quiet evening with a friend of Federico and Andrea of wine, cheese, meats, honey and nuts - a great dinner.  

Tomorrow we are on our way to Florence.