Rapallo, Italian Riviera, Italy, Saturday, September 15, 2012

Via San Lorenzo

We sleep in a bit today and then have our breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast room is quite elegant in a 19th century palace decor. The spread is very nice and has of all things, coca cola, so I must drink it with breakfast. They have some very tasty cakes and pastries as well. We talk to the owner who is having breakfast with us. We thought the Indian guy was the owner but he is the hired help but seems to care very much about the place so they must treat him well.
We meet an interesting couple from Bountiful, Utah. Paul and Chris are both retired military. He was in the army and she was in the air force. They have also retired and are enjoying some traveling. Paul has the distinct advantage of speaking Italian and has relatives in the Rome area. We chat with them for over an hour before exchanging info and saying good bye. Perhaps we will share some Italian wine in Utah.

Church of the Gesu

After paying our bill and packing, we get a later than normal start for us, and hit the streets of Genova around 1045. We walk right up the street where we planned to see the Church of San Lorenzo. When we get there we notice another church a little further up the road. It calls to us so we walk further along and step inside. The church of Gesu is quite beautiful. It is a Jesuit church from the 17th century. It has some splendid frescoes and a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, who we had discovered in Belgium. It is amazing as you travel around how interconnected the powerful people were and how the great artists were sought by them to perform their work in many different countries.
One is the Palazzo Ducale which we walk through its entry hall to head back towards San Lorenzo.

Big Bronze Doors

San Lorenzo has hugh bronze doors at one of the entries. The cathedral was probably founded in the 5th or 6th centuries with Roman age walls and floors having been discovered here. There are two lions guarding the entry steps and the facade and inside is done with black and white marble.
When we are done admiring the church, we head over to Largo Della Zecca to catch a funicular up to Righi. The old city walls surrounding Genova are the second longest in the world. We are intrigued by the people using the funicular for everyday life. The town climbs up the hillside into different neighborhoods and the locals that live there use the funicular to go food shopping and to work.
We get off at the top and walk along the road to a small park overlooking the hills surrounding Genova and down to the Mediterranean as well.

On the Funicular

We stay a bit at the park and then head down to catch the train to Rapallo. We buy our tickets and the train leaves in 5 minutes so we have great timing. We get on sit down and this train has air conditioning which works well. Five minutes goes by and we haven’t left yet and then there is an announcement saying we will be delayed 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, another announcement and everybody gets off the train, so I ask the conductor which track to go to and he says tredici. Once again practicing Italian numbers has paid off. We go to track 13 and get on another train to Rapallo. It is more of a local train so no A/C and we are sitting by a window that won’t open. I am not happy as I am quite hot and sweaty. As we get moving it does cool down somewhat and we still get to Rapallo earlier than expected. We find our hotel without any detours and check in. Carol is not feeling great so I go out to find a market and check out a possible dinner place nearby.

CNC Rapallo

When I get back the short nap has helped Carol and we go out to check out the sea side. It is a beautiful late afternoon and a nice lazy walk along the sea. We check out some restaurants and settle on one and make reservations for tonight. We also stop and share our first Kebap in Italy as we had not eaten any lunch today. Tasty as usual. We continue walking past several beaches and up a hill along the coast before realizing it has gotten quite late so we head back. Returning to the room, we have just enough time to shower before we need to head to dinner.
Since we are on the coast we decide on a seafood risotto to share. We get a couple of beers with it as the wine is very pricey here. Our table is outside on the sidewalk overlooking the Mediterranean and the people watching is great.

Seafood Risotto Including Octopus

The risotto is really good. Carol is not crazy about the octopus in it and the fact that it is all shellfish, one shrimp, and quite a bit of calamari. There is even what I think is snail in it. One thing we both notice is how not fishy it tastes. The seafood as well as most other food we have had here is just so fresh that it all tastes better than what we have in the U.S. We can especially tell the difference in the seafood. After dinner we join the passagieta and also stop for a gelato. Getting to Rapallo earlier than expected has really allowed us to explore and enjoy the town this afternoon and evening.
CNC

“I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life wherever you are” – Diane Von Furstenberg

Expenses
5E- Funicular to Largo Della Zecca to Righi
6.60E- 2 train tickets to Rapallo
4E- Kebap
4.29E- Bottle of White Wine from Basko
37E- Seafood Risotto and 2 beers at Amici Miei
4E- 2 gelatos at Gelateria Luvi
70E- Hotel Villa Luisa