Easter Saturday

Stations of the Cross

Since we got here in Manarola we have been intreged by the figures up the hill representing the ststions of the cross. We did ask some locals what was going to happen with themz and received a variety of responses, none of which made any sense. However tonight all was revealed  - a magical display of lights.

Todays gelato

Tropical passion (pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, rum and caramel) and caramel and nuts!

Genova

Lazy day yesterday with both Karen and I with colds so with Maurizios advice today we caught the train to Genova (Geonoa) with not a great deal of information about what we might see. We were delighted, despite the rain to find a beautiful city. It's Good Friday today so each church was open with a variety of activities. Mostly they were just magnificent to look at inside and out. The San Donato Church had an elaborate display of priest's robes.All of the information was in Italian so we could not work out the significance but they were lovely and we guess quite old and greatly cherished by this church. Interesting to note that although today id Good Friday it was not a pulic holday - business as usual for the Genovese and no hot cross buns to be found! Genova is the biggest seaport in Italy and is the birth place of Christopher Columbus.c

Today's Gelato

Banana and Pistacio

Porto Venere

The walk to Porto Venere

After a more relaxed day yesterday we set off this morning at 9 with Maurizio,mour host and two other guests who are from Austria to walk to Porto Venere. Maurizio drove us part of the way and we then walked for 4 hours through pine forests and along rocky paths with stunning views to both the Gulf of La Specia and the Ligurian Sea. Once again it took me to the limits of my fitness. My legs felt like jelly by the time we walked down, down, down the hill into Porte Venere. By then the sun was shining on the water looking over to La Specia. Maurizio arrived to take us back to Manarola to watch the sun go down over another perfect day.