We’re in the Cinque Terre, where the weather has continued to be dreadful until today.
This morning, the rain stopped and we managed to hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola. The rest of the trail is currently closed, due to dangerous conditions arising from the absurd amount of rain that has fallen here over the last few days. So, our visit to the Cinque Terre has effectively been one to the Due Terre.
The drive down here from Torino was mostly conducted in the rain, too. It’s been unrelenting.
Knowing there would be nothing to do here in the rain, we postponed our arrival for as long as possible by driving via Genova (Genoa). There, we spent a very happy afternoon in the Acquario di Genova, watching fish, dolphins, seals, sea cows, crustaceans and much more. Watching the children’s reactions to the weird and wonderful sea creatures there was as fascinating and enjoyable as observing the animals themselves. Watching Eloïse and Lucas touch rays in the shallow pools was especially rewarding.
We’ve been out of touch for all of 72 hours, so the e-mail probes from concerned in-laws have started to arrive. No, we haven’t driven off a precipice or been kidnapped by Ligurian fisherman. Of course, either fate could await us tomorrow.
Anyway, I’m being thrown out of the reception area of this place now, so it’s time to publish this…