One of many churches in small piazzas
Everyone needs a red cape to keep them warm
the locals having a nap
a potential business for me
soccer hooligans!!
We spent another day getting around Genova. It is quite a charming town which I hadn't heard of as somewhere to visit. The evening saw us sitting at the bar across the roundabout from our hotel, again watching the traffic. There had been a major football game that day, see the pics of the assembled crowds in the main square. I think the team won, as we watched scooters and cars zoom around the roundabout with flags waving and horns hooting. It was hard not to be impressed by the passion of the response. As we played "spotto" (giving an arm punch when you spot one) for our selected subjects; Ducatis, Fiat 500s, Lancias and scooter riders with their feet down (a strange habit of European riders), we attempted to order a bottle of wine from the waiters. It took two orders of a 'glass of wine' to get the message across that we wanted to share a bottle, it seemed alien to them. Also, the waiters insisted on replacing our nibbly dishes; chips, peanuts, petit sandwiches etc, even though we hadn't finished the last???????? There was no arguing or rejection allowed!! Very funny.
Next morning we finally got a car and drove down the coast to Cinque Terra. Mum had told me how lovely it was and so had others. It is now a heritage listed area and the only shame is that there are so many bloody tourists there now, and the accompanying souveniour crap. The drive was interesting and I had to get behind the wheel after a while as I was getting car sick (as usual) with the winding roads. Everywhere you look there is something to see.
We had booked a room at the Ill Borgo Di Campi at Riomaggiore but we didn't know exactly where the 'hotel' was. Turns out it's on the side of a cliff just out of Riomaggiore and our room was 200 steps down from reception!!! Leave the big suitcase in the car........
I'll come back to this..............
Jane, I, as a struggling poet, struggle to understand the wondrous beauty which engulfs you. You seem to be a very lucky girl indeed. Is Tim as nice as you make him sound?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, no joking there. He is so less childish than some men i've known. He is so manipulatable..... a woman's dream!
ReplyDeleteI take it you mean the Italian dog minding, not the aquarium!!!!! 'doggeo careo'by Janeo. Obviously, doing yoga hasn't helped your leggies, woos. You better think twice before you build the upstairs apartment.
ReplyDeleteas two sixty year old people we found the Cinque Terra one of the easist places to get around. Narrow yes steep yes tourists yes beautiful yes interesting yes friendly yes in fact fascinating. I have never heard such a 'whinging, whining, whinging, whining' pair?!!!! Remind me but aren't you 'bloody tourists'? Even I didn't get car sick but you know how John drove. Custodia cani (on way to Writers'Festival)
ReplyDeleteRothy didn't say that it was your Cara Mamma
ReplyDeleteReturnng to my message makes it seem unfriendly. I am fascinated by it all so dont be put off by my trying to be funny. I remember we stayed in la Spezia in a rather shabby hotel where we met fascinating Iranians. It was in that area that John, of all people, said 'What elegant dressers are the Italians!!!'
ReplyDeleteWe nearly stayed in La Spezia but had time to go through to Pisa. Glad we did, got a 5 star hotel for a good price with a view of the tower! Yes, I've heard the same about the dressing on Italians. I think maybe they have become more casual though.
ReplyDelete