Trip to Genoa

As I needed to have some watches serviced I took the train to Genoa and at the same time made a date with my ex Chief Engineer Daniel for a meet up as well as checked that Pier had his watch shop open. 

Train station Genoa Brignole

All good and I made my way down the mountain and took the train from Arma di Taggia towards Genoa Brignole station. As my friend Daniel was working in the marina it was the closest to walk from. As I got walking from the station I was passing a large victory arch I hadn't seen before. It made good pictures so snapped a few from both sides. Apparently the triumphal arch is dedicated to the fallen of the First World War. It is the work by architect Marcello Piacentini and the sculptor Arturo Dazzi, and it was inaugurated on 31 May, 1931.

Arco della Vittoria (Victory Arch)

Arco della Vittoria

Arco della Vittoria

Statue of the "Navigator"

Closer to the marina I came across a lot of municipal works going on in the area and then before crossing over to the waterfront I passed an impressive marble statue the "Navigator". The work was inaugurated in 1938 and represents a sailor armed with tenacity and a simple oar, who looks at the horizon and remains guard over his city. The sculpture is the work of Antonio Maria Morera, it represents a sailor who darkens the horizon, remaining on guard over the city.

Part of the marina and Genova sailing club

Genovese architecture

View towards the port and also Amico and Mariotti yards

As I reached the marina I met up with Daniel, had a short chat and agreed to meet up for dinner on town after he'd finish his work, meanwhile I was going to pop over to the watch shop and have some work done on a few watches. I walked off again and had to make my way up to the "Navigator" where I could find stairs going up the ramp and continuing along the shore towards the cruise terminals. The shore itself was all taken up by yards, marinas and also naval interests so it was all off limits for pedestrians. Nevertheless it was a good view up the slope over the marina towards the cruise terminals.

Genovese architecture

Genovese architecture

Master watch repairer Pier Traversa at work

Over at Pier's I offloaded mostly quartz watches needing a new battery and then I had a few mechanical one's needing some service on the movements. Pier only speaks Italian and myself only English so our conversations are always quite rudimentary. By now I've picked up some lingo so can understand a bit more and say some key phrases but it is still very basic conversation. Google translate is a great help. My business didn't take long, after about half and hour and few euros less I was on my way again having concluded all matters. I messaged Daniel and he proposed we meet up at Piazza delle Erbe for dinner.

Genovese architecture

Genovese architecture with a moonrise

I made my way up to the piazza and soon Daniel came walking along, we settled on a convenient dinner and bought some luxury panini's from a corner shop, Bar Berto, and sat down for a catch up and a bite. After this we went for a very old gelateria close by for some dessert at Romeo Viganotti who had made ice cream for decades already. Time was getting on so Daniel had to get back to his and I had to walk to the train station in order to make it back to Taggia tonight. 

Piazza delle Erbe

So we bid goodbye and I walked off to Genoa Principe, got my ticket and after a short wait I was off towards west. There was not much people around so I got a seat easily and the train kept clonking away station by station, it didn't take long before we already passed Imperia and I made myself ready to get off. In Taggia I hopped on my scooter and drove up the mountain to get into my nice bed after a busy day.