Big storms in the night; sooo much rain – no wonder it’s so green around here! It was still going strong this morning and we didn’t think we’d get out at all today.
Fortunately, there was a break around lunchtime, so we hopped on a bus into the city. Being the criminals that we are, we actually rode five stops for free in order to get to the nearest tobacconists for a bus ticket! 🙄Luckily, they were every ten minutes so straight into the next one – with the required bigletti.
We’ve driven past Genoa so many times over the years but never actually been in. It’s the most massive sprawl of a city – goes on forever.
We went first to look at the old town and a few grand palaces on the Via Garibaldi.
The San Lorenzo Cathedral was very impressive but the old streets in between are really narrow, dark alleyways. Plenty of people about who all seemed to know each other, so not threatening at all, just dark.
There were various tiny shops mixed in with proper old fashioned workshops such as the chandelier makers pictured below.
Down on the waterfront, the Porto Antico seems to be the main attraction, as it’s all been revamped complete with exhibition centres, cafes, ferris wheel etc. Had a nice feel to it.
The heavens suddenly opened again and the €5 umbrella had to do its best against the swirling wind and rain. Timed it right for the bus back and we escaped the worst.
Drove further up the coast over the ‘new bridge’ at which point there was a traffic jam – that wasn’t a place we wanted to be stuck on. Down below there is still rubble to be removed from where the old bridge collapsed back in 2018 tragically killing 43 people.
Turned off the motorway a little further on and found quiet parking in a village. just up the windy roads into the hills.Well, I say quiet – it’s hammering down again – just as all the big Meteo screens in the city warned it would!
