Wednesday 26 February 2014

Feb 25 Arrivederci Italia

We returned to Genova to stay one more day to visit and then take a train to Ventimiglia (border with France). We had initialy chosen a hotel with questionable reputation € 60 per night and breakfast included at 400 metres from the train station. When we arrived at the Hotel door, all our questions were answered. The gate in front of the door had a chain and a lock and a sign written in italian. After reading the sign a couple of times, we decided to follow the arrow. The arrow took us to a big, old, luxurious hotel a few steps further on. We thought the staff of this fancy hotel were going to do the clerical protocol for the cheap hotel and perhaps show us a back door or tell us how to enter in the hotel we had booked.
But nooo! They were going to take the best care of us. The nice receptionist of Grand Hotel Savoia said that for €19 extra to our initial reservation and € 12 p/p for breakfast and spa access,  we could have one of the best double suites in the hotel with a grand view. Well, we couldn't say no on our last day in Italy, so off we went to inspect our room with a grand view.
Wow! The view from our window was brilliant with gigantic cruisers, the sea, magnificent view of Piazza Aquaverde, the train station and the rest of the town. The room was perfect that made us feel guilty. So, for € 97 including the tourist tax, this was an awesome deal. At the end of the day we didn't go to the spa since we had a luxurious jacuzzi tub in our bedroom to soak our very tired feet from walking all day. 
It was really hard to leave this beautiful country where we loved the friendly people, the colourful villages, the landscapes, the home made pasta, the sweet bread, biscoties and the list goes on.

 Good way to end our vacation in Italy.


The room


There were no treasures inside the chest.


The bathroom


A small view of Genova


The train quais


Train station and the Piazza Aquaverte, a statue of Christopher Columbus at his birth city.


Giant cruise ships at dock.


A very complicated elevator. The most complicated elevator ever, first it went east on the level for about 600 meters, then it swtched rail tracks to pass the decending elevator, then it went straight up in one of two elevator shafts for 150 meters. 


Church Santissima Annunziata
The cielings are being restored.




A cascade in Villetta di Negro Park 


A view of monumento G. Mazzini from the cascade.


Many scoooters outside Porta Soprana


Church of Santa Maria Assunta di Carignano. Closed for restorations



The cruise ship was also leaving Italy


 In the evening


Ciao, ciao, Bella! We even saw people using the pay phones, they actually work! 



No comments:

Post a Comment