So on May 5th after a night in Luzern we drove south through more tunnels and came to Italy. There is actually a section of Switzerland that speaks Italian. The road signs are in Italian. We thought we had missed the Welcome to Italy sign actually but no, we were still in Lugano, Switzerland. Anyway, we finally got into Italy as we went straight south on the A9 past the west side of Milano and down to Genova on the A7. We stopped at a highway rest stop and saw that Italy likes soft drinks, just like the US does.
They have big semis like we do too, carrying the same Dutch Maersk containers we see.
Midday we arrived on the Mediterranean Sea at the town where Christopher Columubus was born. We call it Genoa, but they call it Genova.
The blue and white remind me of Greece.
We then began a drive down the coast to the SE of Genova. Sometimes you were overlooking the water and sometimes you were driving through neighborhoods.
When we could we went straight to the beach and got some gelato. Yum! This is in Recco Italy.
Our destination for the night was to be Portofino. We drove up over the mountains from Recco on highway SP1 and saw some incredible scenery. As the road descended we saw this... Portofino! Or so we thought. We had no internet access and although if we had looked at our GPS carefully enough we probably could have learned it, there were many signs saying Portofino and so we thought we were there! We had in fact come upon a town one must drive through to get to Portofino, a town called Santa Margherita Ligure. It looked so much like Portofino with the bay and all that we thought we were there. Only when we got home and Googled the trip more did we realize that Portofino was another seven miles SW. Oh well, next time we'll see the real Portofino...
We stayed at the Hotel Regina Elena, a Best Western hotel. (The hotel is actually behind us in this photo. It is not the mission-like structure being restored to the right in this photo.)
We stayed on the top floor in a corner room for 180 Euros a night. The private beach with dressing rooms was allowed us as guests at the hotel. This is looking NE.
We had a wrap-around balcony that allowed views to the South as well.
We enjoyed the ship traffic.
And this peaceful view south to the Mediterranean.
They too liked big heavy hotel keys. If you go, ask for room 430.
The city's marina.
Wonderful downtown cafes and shops.
And more flowers than I've ever seen before. It seemed as though every man alive was gardening, planting flowers, watering flowers, and making the town and the hillsides above beautiful.
A Portofino-like mega-yacht in the marina.
This was my favorite yacht in the marina: a Menorquin 120, a 39 footer with diesel power, a 13 foot beam, a 3 foot draft, and sleeping for 4-7 people. It was made in Menorca, part of Spain's Balearic Isles.
Check out this large bollard.
Beth exploring the inner city.
Kids playing soccer in the street.
Laundry.
Some are real, some are fake, windows that is.
Fruit and vegetables and animated discussions.
Ice skating next to the sea, outdoors in May.
The catch of the day, most alive and wiggling, especially the eels.
Friends who talked to everyone in town.
Beth's simple pasta dinner was delicious.
The view from our balcony at night. (The Lumix does a great job of long exposures.)
And south to the sea...
Sunrise on the Med.
I wish I was sailing off for the day...
A Renault Grand Scenic, a most strange car at first but it grew on me. Check out how large that passenger window is!
Another smart yacht in the harbor.
A hotel near ours.
Beth writing postcards on our balcony. The Kronia Quelle was a great very fizzy orange soda. Loved it.
We loved Santa Margherita Ligure. We had never seen a place like it. We did not want to leave.
Created: 27 May 2009 Modified: 27 May 2009