April 28th - Genoa, Italy

The stop in Santa Margherita was cancelled due to the rough seas and we were
going to have to tender to port, so my tours to San Fruttuoso, Camogli and
Portofino were also cancelled.

New stop was Genoa. This is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and
Italy's chief seaport.

Since I had no plans I took the hop on hop off bus around the city. After a
full circle around the city the weather started to clear and warm up a bit,
so I stopped to walk around, do some exploring and have lunch on Piazza San
Matteo.

After months of 80-90 degree weather, the 50s are a shock to the system.
Keeping my fingers crossed for warmer weather for tomorrow.

April 27th - Livorno, Italy

Here was our schedule for the day:

- 7:30am pick up at the pier
- 9:15am Portovenere
- 10:00am take the ferry from Portovenere to Riomaggiore
- Visit Riomaggiore, walk the Via dell'Amore to Manarola (20 min flat walk)
- Visit Manarola
- 11:40am take the ferry from Manarola to Vernazza, visit Vernazza
- 12:55pm take the ferry from Vernazza to Monterosso, visit Monterosso (have
lunch, if you wish)
- 2:30pm depart Monterosso for the panoramic hilltop road* before heading to
Pisa
- 4:15pm arrive Pisa
- 5:00pm depart Pisa
- 5:30pm back at port

So much for plans, it may have been raining, but I was here, so on I went!

Antonio picked us up at the pier and we headed to Portovenere and walked
around in the rain for a bit before heading to meet Luca and our first stop
of the Cinque Terra tour.

Because of the rains and rough seas, the ferries were not running, because
they could not safely land.
There had been a rock slide on the path from Riomaggiore to Manarola so
pathway was closed as well.
Third option was to use the trains.

One could see Manarola at the end of the tunnel from Riomaggiore, no one was
allowed to walk, so we got train tickets for the one minute ride to the
second village. The train was an hour and a half late. The officials just
kept telling us the train was coming.

So concerned about the reliability of future trains and making it back to
the ship when we finally got on the train we headed for Vernazza where Luca
arranged for Antonio to pick us up again.

We spent time in Vernazza walking around and then stopped for lunch (and to
get out of the rain).

Antonio picked us up and we headed to Pisa along the panoramic hilltop road.
Arrived back to the ship about 6:30.

So instead of Cinque Terre (five villages), I did two villages. Still a
great day and beautiful place. I would love to hike the scenic twelve miles
along the hillside above the villages. I guess I will just have to come back
again!