Up ‘n at it after a relatively tame night! Lots of rain this morning, so we decided on a little boys trip to museums, with Alex, Nazim, and Clement.

We hit up the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore after queueing for an hour in the rain, then the Leonardo da Vinci place.

Grabbed some awesome pizza, then a long trek around the Baboli Gardens at the back of Palazzo Pitta. The gardens are bloody huge and gorgeous.

Then the usual, drinking games in the hostel with a big crew.

Had my first holiday injury of this trip! Cracked my my head on an open cupboard kitchen cupboard, argh. Lots of blood (scalp injuries, always looks worse than it is) but no concussion ?

Had an early night, my legs needed the rest so badly.

After the late party last night, I still got up early and went to find a smoothie with lots of veggies in it.

A nice slow stroll around town, and a massive sandwich in Piazza Santa Spirito, then back to the hostel for a much needed face mask.

Most of the crew got up and gathered after lunch time, and we walked up to Piazza la Michelangelo with some bottles of wine to watch the sun go down. Clement from the hostel in Genoa for here today and joined us 🙂

Amazing vibes up there! Then back to the hostel for beer pong and I was convinced (easily) to head back into town. A bunch of the guys hit the club from last night, but me, Louis, Clement and Poppy opted for quiet cocktails and games; at a lovely bar called Giulio’s right outside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Luis and Sebastian leaving tomorrow for Rome, so sad! Lots of goodbyes on trips like this it would seem.

Uneventful train ride to Florence, all checked in to Ostello Bello Firenze by 16:00.

This place had a family dinner event so I got to meet a fun bunch of people! My boys Luis and Sebastian (Canada) + Sammy (USA) , Poppy (UK), Marlon (Brazil), Gideon (USA) and some other cool peeps.

We played drinking games on the terrace until about midnight then hit the town to a pretty cool club.

Didn’t get back until 04:30 ? smashing night out though.

I caught the train over to Vernazza in Cinque Terre and did a bit of hiking, it’s very hilly there with stunning views.

Street Food & pub quiz

There’s a cute street food pop up by the port so a group of us went down for focaccia and Spritz Genovese–a really nice drink with basil leaf in it.

Our team had a crack at the pub quiz, we didn’t come first but we did well! We did win a round of Amaro shots for the best team name (courtesy of Liam from New Zealand!)

Last night a lass from Surrey gave me solid advice for next stops, so now it’s gonna be Genoa > Florence > Bologna > Venice.

Sara (Italy) lives in Bologna so we’re going to meet up when I get there and she’s gonna show me the best of it–you can’t beat a local guide.

We got up early today to head over to Cinque Terre, after two cancelled trains we were told there’s work on the lines and it’d be hard to get there argh! Hank (Colorado) and I were gutted.

The day was not lost! Forecast for storms but we still hit the bus down to Boccadasse Beach for the afternoon, chill & swim. Nice 6km walk back to the hostel in the thunderstorm and rain.

Back to the hostel, there’s an awesome kitchen here with free fresh vegetables and pasta so I cooked up some spaghetti and puttanesca; based on my vague recollections of how Pete used to whip some up back in the day.

Tonight, few beers and waiting out the rain. I shall see what the vibe is when the other guys n gals come back in a bit, Gilles (Switzerland) and Spencer (Canada) always seem up for a lark.

Castello Brown, hot tuna, ferry trips

I got up quite late this morning, 10:00, practically lunchtime for me! Missed the 08:30 rendezvous with the girls from last night for Portofino but I really needed the sleep to get over this bloody cold. I feel so much better today for it.

Took a train and bus to Portofino, and had a nice walk around the port and up to Castello Brown.

Not for the first time, a stranger called out to me “Hey Hot Tuna” re: my tank top! Not sure I want that as my nickname, good drag name perhaps?

Took the ferry back over to Santa Margherita (named after the patron Saint of cheese pizza I believe) and chilled on the little beach there waiting for the train back to Genoa.

Still no word on my bloody bank card delivery ?

Met a horde of new peoples tonight though! From Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Australia, France, the USA and more 😀

We went out for drinks and focaccia and the to the Irish pub. Off to Cinque Terre tomorrow with our Hank from Colorado.

Did not sleep well, to the pharmacy! Got meds, long walk and now started feeling a bit better. The soluble stuff the pharmacy lady gave me tastes truly despicable, but seems to be doing the job.

I’m planning a lazy day, some laundry, maybe a haircut if anywhere is open, spa facial perhaps.

Early dinner is impossible here, everywhere closes for three hours in the afternoon and I usually like to eat around 16:00 – 17:00.

Beers and food with some new folks, trying to battle the cold still! Managed up until 23:00 and bailed up to bed. Missed out on giant Jengo booo

Karaoke night last night! Bec sang Summer Nights with Alex ?

There are a lot of Australians at this hostel, all nice folks though; most of them are so young too.

Face masks are still very much in use on public transport and in grocery shops here.

Took a train to Nervi (thanks for the recommendation, Pete Alessi!) and walked around the little beach and the lovely town! Headed down to the marina and hired a kayak for an hour wooooo! ??

By the end of the day, start feeling like shit oh no. Bit of a cold perhaps? Blocked sinuses and sneezing, trying to get an early night after a couple of beers.

Last night Bec and I went out for a little walk and some gelato, followed by a lovely glass of wine!

Today I spent the morning at a tiny beach, a short train & bus ride away, in Boccadasse Beach. Got some early sun and coffee for a bit and then went shopping for sundry items.

Then back to Genoa for a Poke-bowl (trying to be at least a little healthy here!) and a trip to a massive aquarium ??

Tonight the plan is pizza and a few drinks, see where the evening takes us–such a change of pace since Nice!

So sad that it’s my last day in Nice ? although most of us are leaving today, it has been the absolute best time!

Bec was also coming to Genoa for a few days so we came on the Flixbus together.

I had a wander around the harbour, ate some great lasagne and then met up with Bec for gelato and a swift vino. Early night (a real one) then a bus to to Boccadasse Beach tomorrow.

This hostel, Ostello Bello Genoa, is the fanciest so far–they even have a gym wooooo 😀