Hotel Continental Pietra Ligure

Flew to Milan from Dublin then took the train to Savona to board the cruise. Quaint little seaport town which I wish I had more time to explore. Forgot to take a picture of the ship! Not sure how I feel about a big cruise ship (3,800 passengers) but the price was right so thought I would experience it!

... instead of 7am as the plan was to go for a hike to an old church and castle and then go for a run along the promonade. Plans are a wonderful thing. We didn't make it out of bed until after 8.30am.

Had to stop into our local bar for our morning cupuccio - greeted like old friends. The hike took us through the village and to the hills above which were covered in olive trees. It was great to get the heart pumping ...

... them like that any more (thank f**k!). I can't even remember how to ask for 2 beers (which is my current minimum requirement. It's 3 when Jamie's around). The lack of lingistic skills I have would be acceptable in most circumstances, but travelling with a Yank who is fluent in 2 languages that most Americans are even aware exist?!? Now that just doesn't seem right.

so left avignon today with thoughts to head to cinque terre, but due to traffic jam only made it as far as arenzano. found a cute pensione and jason was getting sick of driving so seemed like a good place to stop. tried a few others but was like walking through a sad run down old people town so didn't make it more than 5 mins there. well, happy hour time now, so will write more later....

... we turn misfortune to our advantage - literally! -by a simple swivel of the seat. Lunch is brought forward and consumed to envy and applause by fellow jammees!
We resume without further incident, and make the miles with time to spare for light aperos before evening meal.

... in obscure little town, Ceriale, with camping hard to find, down a very unlikely tight, twisting road around veg and vine plots... but turns out to be sweet. Run by two gay Dutch ladies, one of whom tows the caravans in on her little tractor. Lyn forces entire German contingent to smile. Big success!

Hi all, i'm now in Genoa, which is a delightful seaside city. I really love the atmosphere here, the hostel i'm staying in is based in the mountains, which is at the highest point the busses go to and is a bit of a treck up and down walking, which i love. yesterday i went swimming with some mates in the sea which was freezing but well worth it, i also worked with a client from the Christian faith ...

The Grotte di Toirano is just north of the medieval town of Toirano on the Liguria coast in Italy Blame Mr. Leonard my fifth grade teacher for introducing me to Pierre Berton's book, "The Secret World of OG ". I have been interested in the underworld ever since. The underworld of caves and caverns was a fantastic concept. A world under the earth that creatures inhabited and people visited on rare magical ...

Went to Perletto a couple of weeks after I had arrived in Italy. Got there and went around, took some photos of the place. Rode the bike around, stopped at a few places to get a Moretti every once in a while. In the evening went to eat ...

... though) and so finally found one of those internet/call center joints that charges by the minute for phone calls. Upon reaching her, Sylvie was very gracious about the whole thing and told me she´d waited for a couple of hours and then just figured there had been some type of mix up, so she just went home to wait for my call. She was just glad I was all right. Still, I apologized profusely, but she assured me it was not necessary. And so I had arrived in France; the Cote dÁzur. Wonder if it´ll rain.