the most beautiful train station in Italy

Nervi: a tiny, upscale coastal town (think Yorkville on the sea) just a twenty-minute train ride south of Genova.

Hard to improve on this.

Cinque Terre

The group of five tiny villages along the rocky northwest coast of Italy is probably one of the most popular natural destinations in the country.

I spent a fall Saturday there with three friends: Erin, a fellow Canadian I met in Denmark; her brother Carl; and Prasanna, a new friend from Genova.

We started at the southern end with the so-called Via dell'Amore (don't think I need to translate that).

This isn't a great shot but I wanted to remember the absolutely terrible music this accordionist was playing. Think of the sappiest, corniest tune you know, THEN add cheesy synth-strings, plus an echoing tunnel, and you'll have some idea.

This, however, did not deter some happy couples...

I guess people are supposed to kiss here -

- then "seal your eternal love" with a padlock.

Or not.

The little villages were incredible.

Hiking in the hills above gave us a good view.

Pizza for lunch (after we'd hiked in the wrong direction, got trapped in the rain in a tiny bar, and caught a little mountain bus to the next village!).

Vernazza.

underneath those houses is the sea!

 

my neighbourhood

Directions to my apartment:

1. Start above the train station, overlooking the port.

2. This marks the spot where you start heading uphill.

"little puppy, I miss you"

3. Keep going up once you hit this little street. Best to leave the Hummer somewhere else.

the cul-de-sac of five saints!

4. You'll see this view to the left:

5. Keep heading up the street and round the corner...

"Baby when I'm with you I'm in paradise"

 

6. Pull out the keys...

7. Climb to the top floor of the pale yellow building behind the red one...

8. ...and you'll be rewarded with this view!

9. And if you're really lucky, both Eva and I will be at home!

Milano

Italy's fashion and design capital is only an hour and a half northeast of Genova.

And they do amazing things with marzipan there. (You could eat this but why?)

Also here: one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

La Scala (apparently the inside is much more impressive)

across from the theatre

Second-top tourist attraction: this bull, set in the pavement in one of Milan's oldest shopping galleries. Rub your heel in its you-know-what for luck!

Top tourist attraction (for good reason): the roof of the Duomo, Milan's largest church.

And of course: