Well Lucy won out last night and consequently we ended up eating again! Pizza, of course. It's hard to resist when it is so tasty here!
We were up early this morning and off on a trip to one of the most beautiful and renowned towns in the whole of Italy: Portofino. This town is located on the Italian Riviera, about 30 km from where we are in the centre of Genova. We catch the train at Genova Principe and get off at the picturesque coastal town of Santa Margherita. From here, a local bus takes us along the postcard route: a windy trek of about 4km along a coastline that has captured the hearts of more people in the world than any other.
Portofino is the playground of the rich and famous; Sophia Loren, George Clooney and Angelina Jole are all rumoured to own houses in this exclusive location. Others use the port as a docking point for their super yachts. As we walk down the main shopping strip we pass exclusive shop fronts as well as local ones. Going to the toilet here will cost you about $A2.50 but it will be the best pee you've ever had! A main course at a restaurant in the piazza will cost you about $A70.00. We climb the hillsides and manage to take some excellent scenic shots some of which I have attached.
We head back to Santa Margherita and catch the bus to another seaside town called Camogli. This town is famous for Sagra del Pesce, where fish is fried in a 3.8 meter diameter frying pan. A replica of the frying pan is stationed at the entrance to the town. Camogli is very quiet today; a sign that Summer is close to ending here. We have lunch and take some more great photos and then head back to Genova.
I get off the train a few stations early and tell the FGI crew that I will head back to the hotel on foot. I'm keen to absorb more of this culture but feel that I need to do it on my own. As I walk out of Brignole station I realise that I am disoriented. It's not a concern as I have Google Maps with me but I choose to use it as a last resort. I wander in and out of streets and lane ways, capturing words, conversations, smells and sights. I'm gone for over an hour and a half and predict that I have walked about 7km. I have enjoyed every moment of that experience!
Anyway, we're off again to have dinner with Alba and Alex. You met them in my last blog. This time we are out at a restaurant on the Port of Genova. They are great people so the conversation should be good!