Sestri Levante: New Year 2010

Luca, our almost-3-year-old boy, had been quite ill the year before, so we decide to let him breathe some good sea air….and what could be better than Liguria…Thanks to my sister we rent an apartment in the centre of Sestri Levante, a very peaceful spot, but just as beautiful….On the first day there's a lovely sunny day….and we head for the BAIA DEL SILENZIO (Bay of Silence)…The landscape is breathtaking…The sun reflects in the sea the colours of the houses that surround it and it's a wonder….My thoughts go straight to the writer Andersen, who lived here for several years because he considered it an enchanted place….There are even people putting their feet in the water….the weather was really good…. Luca had great fun running on the sand and then had lots of goes on the carousel, since on the beach opposite there was a funfair.

The next day we take the train to MONTEROSSO; here unfortunately the weather wasn't kind…it rained on and off, but we still enjoyed ourselves on the seafront promenade, watching the waves crash against the rocks…There were lots of cats around the streets and Luca had fun watching them. On the third day we stayed in Sestri in the morning and went to see the famous nativity scene at the Capuchin friars' abbey…Truly fantastic…In the afternoon we met a friend in Chiavari, an equally beautiful spot…it was raining but we didn't get wet because it's all surrounded by arcades….and we ate a delicious focaccia… On the Wednesday we took the train again and went to the Genoa aquarium. We got off at Genoa Principe and after a 10-minute walk, still in the rain, we reached the old port.

The aquarium is beautiful, full of many species of fish; the best were the penguins, we'd never seen them and we liked them a lot. The old port was recently redeveloped and they've added loads of attractions, besides the aquarium, for tourists. Luca was delighted with the CITY OF CHILDREN…He had mad fun….We took the train again, regretting, because of the rain, not having been able to visit Genoa, which must be really beautiful. On the last day we stay in the town and set off the last few sparklers of the New Year on the beach… HAPPY 2010