All posts filed under: Italy Vacation

day 6 – a day in camogli, italy

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Genoa is a good base if you want to explore the Italian Riviera. (In my opinion anyway). So, I included the destination on this year’s trip to Europe to do just that. After a stormy day in Lake Como, (a day trip from Genoa) we loaded up on esspresso and pastries and got on an intercity train for a half hour journey to Camogli from Genoa. A fishing village I haven’t been to for over 15 years. The easy going small town, adorned with charming pastel colored buildings, put me at ease right away and I had a difficult time leaving the place to catch the last train back to Genoa for the night. I can see myself spending at least a week, if not more there, simply existing, eating focaccia, plenty of fresh seafood and rum balls, in between napping and oh yeah simply existing. 🙂

day five – genoa bound

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Two days in Rome is plenty of time for anyone who’s been there many times. So after 48hours we took a train to Genoa. A city I use as a base when I want to enjoy the Italian riviera. The weather prediction for day one was rain and thunderstorms, hardly a good time to lay on the beach. So we took a day trip to lake Como instead and spend the entire day leisurely walking about the small town after taking a one hour bus ride to Bellagio first to have lunch at our usual eatery tucked away in a neighborhood not frequented by tourists. I don’t recommend day trips to Como from Genoa but it is something easily done from Milan. Anyway being a seasoned traveller helped and we accomplished seeing e an unplanned destination thanks to the not so pretty weather in Genoa.

Day four -piazza navona or bust

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Rome, crowded, muggy, sticky hot and yet I was determined to spend two days touring the chaos. I say that lovingly. My main objective was to see every tourist site in one day and spend day two taking in all of piazza Navona and that thought process worked out perfectly. I spend an entire day from sunrise to ten at night in piazza Navona, studying every nook and cranny of the romantic neighborhood. Stay tuned to hear more about it soon. In the meantime photo photo photo:

vacation planning in full swing

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Okay, one week into the foggy “almost” summer in San Francisco and I am ready to plan my annual trip to Europe.  Well, mostly Italy and France, of course. I’ve been everywhere else and since want to just be in Italy and France. 🙂 This year, as usual we are taking our two weeks early September to explore parts of Italy and France, I haven’t been to in a while and some I frequent every year. Paris and Rome. As I plan my rail travel route and schedule, I have to say, I am over the moon about the trip and feel the first week of September is ions away.  Stay tuned on this one, I cannot wait to share.  In the meantime, have a great weekend and if you feel like it, drop me a line, about your travel plans this year or just your recommends and favorite places in Italy and France.

boutique hotel picks – royal hotel san remo – sanremo, italy

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I can usually tell it’s time to plan my annual vacation, when all I can think about is, romantic destinations and the luxury accommodations that should go with it, especially for those of us over 40. I mean I’ve done my share of hostels in my youth, budget properties throughout my thirties. But now I seek luxury and romance, with an attached bathroom to my suite. In light of this fact, I have included my favorite property in Sanremo, Italy. A place I never considered vacationing until I saw the place in the film, The Talented Mr. Ripley.  So, I’ll let the photos do the talking and if you need to know more about the property, click here:

boutique hotel pick – casa angelia – amalfi coast, italy

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Now that vacation planning is in full swing and perhaps even late in getting some great deals, I decided it’s time to talk boutique hotel picks. Every year, I imagine a romantic getaway and although I stick to Paris as my safe haven, I can’t help but think of exotic coastal retreats to spend a romantic week. One place, which I’ve frequented quite often in my lifetime is the Amalfi Coast and with it, I have fallen in love with many properties to spend six nights/seven days. For that thought and of course a romantic destination recommend, I suggest Casa Angelia.

day 6 – travel journal – portofino, italy

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After the hectic day we had while trekking through the Cinque Terre, we decided to take a day to just relax and what better place to do so than Portofino, Italy. From Genoa, we took a train to Santa Margherita for 3.50Euro pp each way, then for  1.50Euro pp each way, we hopped on bus no 82 from the train station to Portofino and within an hour’s time from Genoa we were in one of the most peaceful fishing villages (and a hide out for the rich) in the Italian Riviera. We spend the entire morning leisurely circling the small town on foot, then stopped for lunch at the best bakery in the area for roasted onion focassia  or two or three and then climbed up a hillside to get the postcard views which I have only seen on the cover of most  travel brochures promoting the region. We ended the day by sitting at a sidewalk bar/cafe to people watch while we contemplated their lifestyles and reasons for visiting Portofino. The town is small, …