Holiday - Genoa

Genoa was one for the books. we arrived in town about 3pm, mosied around the city (smaller but beautiful nonetheless) got a glimpse of the ocean (holl was VERY excited about this) and then trained it to the eastern side of Genoa where we met Alessandra. there is a website called couch surfing where you can look/search around and request to stay on people's couches. Alessandra was our first experience and I think it will be tough to compete because she was so kind and so gracious. she picked us up, we went back to her place, she invited us out for drinks and aperitivos with her gals from work to send off a colleague that is leaving the company. after we drove and parked in the city, Alessandra gave us a little tour of the city on our way to the bar. she had little tidbits of history that she passed onto us, and hearing her speak about Genoa just really showed how much she loves it here. she's been so many places, and she chose to come back to Genoa. the place we went to was a trendy little bar, and Alessandra so graciously bought our drinks. we sat around a big table, listened to quick Italian chatter and socialized with some really fun women (also tried focaccia bread - YUM) After the bar we headed out, and Alessandra stopped on our way home. she took us into this adorable little dessert and espresso bar, so of course Hol and I got some gelato (lemon - delightful) and the girl working was rattling off Italian to Alessandra. Alessandra told her where we were from, and about 5 minutes later she gave us a little bag with two mini pastries in it and she said something to Alessandra which Alessandra translated to us saying, "she wanted to give you a little something for your visit. she knows people around here aren't the nicest and wanted you to feel welcome." Though surprised by her comment about people not being the friendliest, we extended many thanks and departed the shop. we popped in next door to a bar where we met some of the gals we had dinner with - they had a few more drinks and we left to go back to Alessandra's. Cecilia came along as well and stayed in Alessandra's room, and Holl and I stayed on the pull out couch which Alessandra so kindly prepared for us. It took me a while to fall asleep, and we were up by 6:45 with Alessandra taking Viking (her fluffy golden retriever with a serious agenda) for a walk. after we remade her couch and tidied our area we left for the train station. Alessandra drove us all the way to the station, which we weren't expecting at all and it was so terribly kind of her to go out of her way. She hugged us both and said we always had a place to stay with her, and we both extended the same offer if she ventured back to the USA or made it to New Zealand. 

Hol and I had quite a bit of time to kill, so we parked it in a cafe in the train station. Around 45 minutes before our bus was to depart from the coach station, we started our walk there. Upon arrival, we couldn't find out bus. We inquired to a few (not so nice) bus drivers and then the panic set in (as it often did) that we wouldn't make the bus or train and be stranded and have to buy another ticket etc etc. Our Ouibus arrived, we hopped in (snagged the front seats - my motion sickness was thankful) and began our 3 hour journey to Nice. We stopped at a gas station for a half hour, and the driver demanded we get off the bus (ok man relax) and then we were stopped at the Italy Franxe border to have our passports checked. For some reason he lingered when checking mine and I just broke out in the sweats assuming the worst like he wouldn't let me in or something crazy. After he walked away Holl and I both blew out a breath of relief and gave each other the look, one we exchanged multiple times during our week together. Onward to Nice to see MA & MONSIEUR!

cheers & ciao, jkro