Genoa, Monaco and Nice - Thursday 13 June 2019

Breakfast in the hotel, checked out, and started the drive along the coast to Genoa. 

Easy drive. Parked and walked around. This is at the maritime museum...



Another nice old town. Check out that sky...

Had some amazing gnocchi with pesto. Pesto was invented in Genoa and it was fantastic.

Genoa Harbour...



I think this is some sort of ride...

I bought a couple of bottles of pesto at a local market...

Back in the car, heading for Monaco. I've been here twice before but only at night.

Parked in France and walked over the "border" !

That's the famous Monte Carlo casino in the background...

Walked into the casino...

Monaco Harbour...

Had a very average and over-priced lunch by the harbour.

Then back to the car and onwards to Nice, which is very close - about 30 minutes by freeway.

Checked in and went for a walk along the restaurant strip. Dinner at a Spanish place in a lively street near my hotel.

And dessert !

Cinque Terre - Wednesday 12 June 2019

Woke and had breakfast in the hotel. Not a bad breakfast and loved the fact that they provided sparkling wine (I didn't have any!) 

This is the view of Levanto from my balcony...

Today I want to explore Cinque Terre which are 5 towns on the Italian Riviera. I am staying in Levanto which is the closest town to Cinque Terre but not one of the 5 towns. It's well serviced by train. A day ticket was EUR16. 

The line runs by the sea. One of the stations...

I first caught the train to the furthest one of the 5 towns, Riomaggiore which is a nice town with a small harbour, but not much to see.

After exploring, I caught the train to the next town back, Manarola.



Walked around the cliffs and took this, looking back...

After that, skipped the middle town and caught the train to Vernazza. It's pretty busy.

Had lunch in the main square...

Next stop Monterosso as I wanted to swim and it seemed to have the nicest beach.

By now, the sun was out so I spent a couple of hours lying on the beach and swimming. Nice beach but stones instead of sand made it uncomfortable to walk !

Walked along the seafront...

About 5pm I went for a walk around town. This town is bigger and really lovely. It helps that the sun is out now ! Walked up to a cemetery overlooking the sea.

Then caught the train back to Levanto and back to hotel to shower. Walked into town and had a beer sitting outside at a bar. Then found a nice seafood restaurant for dinner.

Lake Como to Levanto - Tuesday 11 June 2019

Woke up and had another great breakfast at the B&B. It's so nice sitting on the terrace, being served breakfast and looking at the lake. Very peaceful.

Checked out and headed to the Italian Riviera ! Stopped for lunch on the way on the outskirts of Milan. It's pretty hot.

Then kept going to Levanto which is one of the gateway towns to Cinque Terre. Couple of hours easy drive on freeway for the most part. Checked into Hotel Carla in Levanto, and walked into town for a drink and dinner.

This is the Levanto beachfront...

Found a bar and had an aperol spritz...

Then had a nice dinner...

Back to the hotel and crashed.