Day 61 - Genova - Citta' di Cristoforo Colombo
Friday Agust 31, 2018.
Today we tried to get up early and do some schoolwork but I have to confess that it is hard, especially when you don't have to be anywhere. Also, because this apartment is so dark and quiet! It's the opposite of what we had in Nice. Anyway, we had a late start. We covered a good chunk of the old town, finding churches and palazzos in every corner. It was amazing to see how well maintained some of the houses are! They are all so tall and close to each other. It really makes you feel like if you were walking in the medieval dark and stinky streets. We are staying in a building that was built in the 1300s. Luckily, it has been thoughtfully updated!
After walking for a while, we took the kids out for lunch to a Chinese restaurant that Gregory and I had found the night before. We wanted to surprise Daniel with orange chicken since he couldn't have it on his birthday. After that, we continued our tour of the old town and the port. We walked through the Porta Soprana to the house of Christopher Colombus, which was an 18th-century reconstruction after the original was bombed by the French in the 1600s. Next to the house was the cloister of St. Andrea, beautiful!
We then walked back to the Old Port to ride the Bigo which is a rotating elevator that gives panoramic views of the city and the harbor. The Bigo didn't open until 5:00pm, so we first stopped for a coffee in a gelateria and admired the old port and watched people enjoying the afternoon.
Riding the Bigo was a fantastic opportunity to see the whole city from a different perspective. The cabin rotated 360 degrees so you could see every corner. After that, we came home for a break. The kids ran to their electronics, me, to bed to watch TV which I haven't done in a while.
After a nap, I prepared dinner around 8:00pm. I'm surprised how late we are eating at night. We all wanted to stay home after dinner but Gregory really wanted to show the kids the old port at night. After some complaining, we walked back to the harbor. It was so alive and beautifully illuminated. On our way back, it started to rain a little bit. As soon as we walked in the door, it really started to pour down. Lucky for me because Gregorio had plans to go out for a coffee. I do love to go out but not after we make it home at 10:30pm! [Gregory's note: Lili always says she wants to go out but rarely does.]
Genova is a magnificent city that amazingly has not been discovered by tourists yet aside from the cruise ships that dock here. We give it 20 years before all those medieval alleys are filled with cafes, art galleries, and souvenir shops.
Today we tried to get up early and do some schoolwork but I have to confess that it is hard, especially when you don't have to be anywhere. Also, because this apartment is so dark and quiet! It's the opposite of what we had in Nice. Anyway, we had a late start. We covered a good chunk of the old town, finding churches and palazzos in every corner. It was amazing to see how well maintained some of the houses are! They are all so tall and close to each other. It really makes you feel like if you were walking in the medieval dark and stinky streets. We are staying in a building that was built in the 1300s. Luckily, it has been thoughtfully updated!
After walking for a while, we took the kids out for lunch to a Chinese restaurant that Gregory and I had found the night before. We wanted to surprise Daniel with orange chicken since he couldn't have it on his birthday. After that, we continued our tour of the old town and the port. We walked through the Porta Soprana to the house of Christopher Colombus, which was an 18th-century reconstruction after the original was bombed by the French in the 1600s. Next to the house was the cloister of St. Andrea, beautiful!
We then walked back to the Old Port to ride the Bigo which is a rotating elevator that gives panoramic views of the city and the harbor. The Bigo didn't open until 5:00pm, so we first stopped for a coffee in a gelateria and admired the old port and watched people enjoying the afternoon.
Riding the Bigo was a fantastic opportunity to see the whole city from a different perspective. The cabin rotated 360 degrees so you could see every corner. After that, we came home for a break. The kids ran to their electronics, me, to bed to watch TV which I haven't done in a while.
After a nap, I prepared dinner around 8:00pm. I'm surprised how late we are eating at night. We all wanted to stay home after dinner but Gregory really wanted to show the kids the old port at night. After some complaining, we walked back to the harbor. It was so alive and beautifully illuminated. On our way back, it started to rain a little bit. As soon as we walked in the door, it really started to pour down. Lucky for me because Gregorio had plans to go out for a coffee. I do love to go out but not after we make it home at 10:30pm! [Gregory's note: Lili always says she wants to go out but rarely does.]
Genova is a magnificent city that amazingly has not been discovered by tourists yet aside from the cruise ships that dock here. We give it 20 years before all those medieval alleys are filled with cafes, art galleries, and souvenir shops.
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| Piazza de Ferrari |
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| Selfie |
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| Piazza de Ferrari -- Daniel was a little disappointed, he was hoping for some actual Ferraris! Theater behind. |
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| Palazzo Ducale (exhibition of Mexican muralists inside) |
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| Piazza Ferrari |
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| Palazzo Ducale (behind) |
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| Chiesa de Gesu |
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| This picture is for my dad (who is in heaven) and who used to take me to a bookshop with the same name! |
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| San Lorenzo cathedral, 900 years old this year! |
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| Detail of Cathedral San Lorenzo, Virgin Mary pregnant. |
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| Details in the main entrance of the Cathedral |
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| Palazzo di San Giorgio, one of the world's oldest banks |
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| Palazzo di Giorgio on the back. |
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| Porta Soprano, city walls from the 12th century |
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| Look at those towers! |
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| Sant'Andrea Cloister next to Columbus's house. Model: Sunshine Harris |
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| Cristoforo Colombo house |
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| One of the many typical streets in the historic downtown of Genova |
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| Another church! |
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| Mukke Pazze cafe -- look at all those drinks! |
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| The Bigo base |
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| View from the Bigo, the old Port |
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| One of the many towers |
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| Old Port and the Bigo at night. My boys! |
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| Genova at night, beautiful light reflections in the water! |
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