2009-06-14 Italy Trip - Portofino

Arrived in Portofino overnight.

Breakfast with Robert and Anca serving (both from Romania). Had a blast with them. Justin had banana pancakes. I told Robert that I just wanted to stay at table. He said no, that I had to go and that I should go now. We laughed.

Went ashore in tender boats 9:30

Explored Portofino, caught 82 bus to Santa Margherita Ligure – ended up at the train station and had to walk back down to the piazza. Mass was in progress, so we didn’t get inside the church. Shame, since it’s apparently one of the world’s most beautiful churches.

Had gelato dipped in rich, dark chocolate. Molto bene! Got water from another gelateria and heard Amy MacDonald playing on the radio –in Italian! Audrey shopped for shoes.

Met a family from Evergreen, CO (Dave). He’s a pharmacist who now works on the local hospital’s pharmacological computer systems.

Met another couple on the return dock. He lived in Perkasie, PA when he was very young, moved to Teaneck, NJ for his formative years and played baseball at Teaneck High as a relief pitcher. The only game he ever got to pitch was against Bogota every year since their team was awful (1950-54). He and his wife lived in Charlotte, NC in 1967, then moved to CT. They are moving to their house in NH soon. What are the odds of meeting someone who lived in Perkasie, Teaneck, and Charlotte?

Missed dinner – formal. Hector sent up cheesecake for me. Meredith had salmon.


View Portofino to Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy in a larger map

Portofino

Portofino

Santa Margherita Ligure

I found some raku in Santa Margherita Ligure.

The rest of the June 14 pictures are here.