We got into Genoa at 10:00 that night. We found a helpful cab driver who took us to our hotel and I negotiated things in Italian. I was feeling confident and proud of myself. Then, we found out we couldn't get in to the hotel. We hit the button to get buzzed in, but no one was around. We tried calling, but our cellphones weren't working. We didn't have phone cards to use the pay phones (pay phones in Italy no longer take change). We found an internet cafe where we could use a phone, but there was no one around. We were tired and cranky and cold with no place to sleep. Finally, we started walking back to the train station, intending to sleep there for the night. However, we ran across another hotel, and dropped in to see if they had any rooms. They did, and the guy at reception spoke English and was very helpful. So we were able to take a shower and sleep in a warm bed that night.
The next day, we got up and went out to Cinque Terre. It was absolutely stunning. We hiked between four of the five little towns. You're just going to have to wait for my pictures instead of having me describe it. I literally cannot. (so much for being an English major!) While hiking between the third and fourth town, we got lost, and ended up wandering around after dark, having no clue where we were going. So that was fun. We found our way back to the town we set out from and then just got a train back to the first town to have dinner. I had a giant pesto pizza--it was excellent, but really oily. I noticed this all through Italy. The food was excellent, but usually had too much oil or something and so it made me feel vaguely ill. We finally got back to Genoa late that night and went right to bed.
The next day, we went to Bologna. The train there was crazy. Firstly, it was 4 hours or something on the train. Secondly, on our second train, we didn't have reserved seats. It was so packed that people were standing in the aisles for two hours! It was ridiculous. We finally got to Bologna and walked to our hotel. It was a half hour walk from the city center--in other words, a long way away from where we wanted to be. Since we had gotten in at 3 or 4, we didn't head into the city, but found a grocery store and watched CNN International. Finally! News!
Our day in Bologna was really nice. We went to the basilica, which is only half done in marble and has walls/windows that just end halfway through, and we wandered around the city center. All the sidewalks are covered, so if it rained, you wouldn't have to get wet. That evening, we went to see National Treasure in Italian. It was really exciting, because I was able to understand far more than I expected. I loved it.
We didn't do much for New Year's Eve: we watched a movie and we watched a concert taking place in Rome. Personally, I prefer a quiet New Year's, so it was fine by me!
The next day, we got up early. I went off to Venice, and Catie went to Florence. But that's another story.
We didn't do much for New Year's Eve: we watched a movie and we watched a concert taking place in Rome. Personally, I prefer a quiet New Year's, so it was fine by me!
The next day, we got up early. I went off to Venice, and Catie went to Florence. But that's another story.
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