Tuesday, June 2 – Holiday – Lavagna to Genova transfer day

Working with Gianni we decided to leave Lavagna around noon, hoping the weather would allow swimming in the sea in the morning. It did! What salty fun! I swam, not interested in getting sun, then returned to the hotel to read. Kelli and Stephanie sunned on the beach mostly and stayed out much longer. On my walk back I bumped into both Jim and Ruth (separately) taking strolls along the sunny walkway. Our departure was delayed as Roberta (the sweet woman running the hotel) provided us with refreshments (which turned into nearly a meal of delicious snacks!) before we took off.

One of the free beaches in Lavagna.

We then departed for Genova. Our hotel there turned out to be the Marcellina – a convent and school and hotel!

Arriving in Genova - as seen through our bus windshield.

The Marcellina - convent, school, and hotel.

Kelli and Stephanie hit the nearby beaches (none of these were public though) and I, after scoping out the maps, decided to walk into the center of Genova (a pretty good distance, but not bad) along the sea. It was lovely on a lovely day, with old and interesting buildings and embellishments and holidaying people.

Genova's seaside promenade.

One of Genova's many pay beaches - full of holiday traffic.

After working my way into the Centro Storico from the coast I stopped first at Christopher Columbus’ family house (not wanting to miss it if it didn’t turn out to be on our itinerary). It is very small, but well done. It was the location of his father’s shop and is one-story short from how it originally was because of bombings and the removal of nearby buildings meaning it couldn’t hold the top story. A lot was closed for the holiday, but there were some markets and the tourist attractions were all open. I eventually made my way to a cinema in the very developed marina area by the Genova aquarium. I saw Night at the Museum 2 in Italian, a fun, funny film – and the dubbing of Robin William’s voice was perfect!

The Two Towers and Columbus's family home.

One of Genova's covered shopping areas.

A municipal band marching and playing for the holiday.

"This is New York" well, on a poster in Genova.

A lion outside of Genova's Duomo, glowing in the setting sun.

I then joined the others at dinner, although I had already eaten, to get a ride back to the hotel with Gianni and the team.

Elvis hangs out in Italy too!