February 2026. Genoa.
The best way to get a sense of Genoa Old Town is from the Spianata Castelletto,
reached by an attractive Art Nouveau lift,
or by persuading Mrs RM to take an exhausting half hour zig zag of a walk from Via Balbi.
You can see the giant cruise ships from that viewpoint, and back down via the escalator we took a walk through the alleys to the sea.
There’s three main routes into central Genoa; through the high palaces of Via Balbi,
along the ethnic life of Via di Prè,
or by the coast.
I’m fairly sure most folk on cruises walk past the boats, pop in the Aquarium,
and search out the fried calamari.
I mean, that’s all we did on our first trip here.
You’ll notice my obssession with squid, and I’d noted on here before that the only place to eat a tray of calamari is from a little kiosk on Genoa seafront.
Only Mrs RM will be able to testify to the joy on my face with this 12 euro bundle of chewy wonder in my hand (NCSS5). She dropped a piece, I didn’t pick it up.
And that should have been the perfect end to our four days in Genoa.
But perhaps, one more beer.
retiredmartin 
More St. George, he is popular! I would have had to try the panissa which I looked up to find out what it was.
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Yeah I wonder if all those hanging flags on lamp posts know that he was Turkish, like all those barbers that St Nige keeps banging on about?
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Late reply, Jon, I had the panissa with the calamari. Was expecting chickpea fritters but may have been fries, good whatever.
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“February 2026. Genoa.”
(looks up)
From the pic above, I’d say it’s more like 1793-1795 instead of 2026.
“The best way to get a sense of Genoa Old Town is from the Spianata Castelletto,”
Height is usually the best way to view a town.
“reached by an attractive Art Nouveau lift,”
(looks down)
Art Nouveau indeed!
“or by persuading Mrs RM to take an exhausting half hour zig zag of a walk from Via Balbi.”
(slow golf clap)
“and back down via the escalator we took a walk through the alleys to the sea.”
A wise move.
“through the high palaces of Via Balbi,”
A bit like strolling back down to Paris proper from Montmartre?
I’m fairly sure most folk on cruises walk past the boats, pop in the Aquarium, and search out the fried calamari.”
(shakes his head)
Tourists! 😎
“I mean, that’s all we did on our first trip here.”
LOL! 😁
“You’ll notice my obssession with squid, and I’d noted on here before that the only place to eat a tray of calamari is from a little kiosk on Genoa seafront.”
I had some pretty darn good squid on the waterfront in Heraklion, Crete.
“Only Mrs RM will be able to testify to the joy on my face with this 12 euro bundle of chewy wonder in my hand (NCSS5). She dropped a piece, I didn’t pick it up.”
Pfft. That’s how they soften them up. Dropping it again is merely enhancing the chewy softness.
“And that should have been the perfect end to our four days in Genoa.”
But…
“But perhaps, one more beer.”
I like your thinking! 👍
Cheers 🍻
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What a superb trip. It has all looked gorgeous. Cannot say I would be trying calamari any time soon though. What about chocolatiers – any good ones?
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Turin for chocolate 🍫, Lana !
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