Sunday Funday on the Ligurian Coast

I have decided to treat this blog as a public journal during these next three months because I figured that is the best way to share all of my adventures with family and friends. I can post pictures or post updates on my Facebook, but that doesn’t really allow me to get into detail. This is the best way to update my friends and family all at once with the ability to elaborate on my daily journeys. I am also hoping that strangers will see this blog and be inspired and learn what it is like to “live like an Italian”.  So I hope you enjoy and become inspired!

As most of you know, I am living in Genoa, Italy as an Au Pair. I had the same experience with the same family last year for three months, but this time I am here during the summer months (which I am very excited about!). I have been here about five whole days now and I have really enjoyed my time here so far. The first few days were spent just hanging out with the family and playing with Gabriele (the 7 year old boy I am nannying). He is busy with so many activities so the days consisted of going around and watching his water polo and soccer games. Those will all soon come to an end though, along with school, and then he will be free for the summer. That means I will probably be spending a lot more time with him at the beach (which I am totally OK with). The family pays to go to a private beach every summer and I get to take Gabri there on days that aren’t busy and when the weather is good. We went to the beach on Friday and it was very nice. The beaches in Italy are completely different than in California. Here they have private (you have to pay to get in) and public beaches. At the private beaches you are paying for a small storage area along with all the amenities at the beach (pool, chairs with umbrellas, showers). I really enjoyed going to the private beach because you can spend a whole day there and not get bored. The only downside to the beaches in Italy is that they are rocky and hurt your feet to walk on. I guess the positive side to the rocky beaches, however, is that sand doesn’t get everywhere because there isn’t any, and the water is so clear and beautiful.

Sunday was the first day I spent away from the family. For the first time since I have been here, the weather was beautiful. The sun was shining and the sky was clear and blue. I went on a bike ride with some friends (old and new). We took a train from Genoa to a nearby town called Arenzano and from there we rented bikes and rode along the sea to another town called Varazze. Once we got to Varazze we ate lunch at a small restaurant and also got some gelato ( I have been waiting sooo long to come back to Italy and eat gelato). I got basilico e limone (basil and lemon) and fragola (strawberry). I know the combination may seem kind of strange, but it is so yummy! On the ride back we made a stop and spent some time in the sun on a beach. I so desperately wish I brought my bathing suit with me because the water was crystal clear and enticing me to come in. I couldn’t stay away from the water, so I decided to just put my feet in and got the bottom of my jeans wet. It was worth it because the water was so refreshing after a long bike ride.

After I arrived by train back in Genoa, I met with another friend. We went to a food truck festival and met up with two other people (both from Greece, but are in Italy for work). There were many food trucks with a large variety of food that came from different regions of Italy. I got fried food which consisted of fried mozzarella, fried zucchini flowers, fried squid, and fried stuffed olives (my favorite). We spent a lot of time socializing and then made our way to the city center for gelato (can you tell that I love gelato??) in piazza delle erbe. I forget the name of the ice cream place, but I do know that it was so good and I will definitely be going back.

This day just reminded me of how blessed I am to be here. There is nothing better than being in a beautiful place while socializing with like minded people. I am so thankful for the people that I have met here in Italy and I am thankful that I get the opportunity to live here this summer. It truly is a beautiful country and I am so excited for the many more adventures to come during these next few months.