After checking in to Hotel Europa on Wednesday night once we got off the train we had a pizza and wine at the local pizzeria before crashing ready for a big day exploring Genoa. Early rise brekky at local and café and took off on foot to see the dock area…..was NOT too impressed, thought the alley ways and stone walls were all very dirty, also many street sellers who appeared to be on the sleazy side. Reached the aquarium area and decided to jump on a small tour bus (12 seater) travelled up a couple of streets listening to the commentary and then WOOMPAH!….around a corner and wow what a city ….fountains, frescos, mosaic paths, Christopher Columbus old house, beautifully planted gardens and all the modern shops you could ask for. Finished that tour back at the dock and decided to get onto the HOHO tour to use as our transport mode (our hotel was near the station not the city) one complete circuit and you guessed it was G&T time again ….found a great little bar/café and we people watched ….loved it ….so much that we almost missed the last bus back to hotel…..made it and then went to the station to meet Sharon and Byron after their LONG day of transport….helped them back to hotel and went to same pizzeria for pizza and wine ….a great day really…..next day, we caught a train to Santa Margherita and then a bus along the one sometimes one way winding road to the little picturesque place of Portofino. Wandered this cute place, had a wine and then reverse travelled back to Genoa where we ventured round the city with Sharon and Byron (from here on S&B) and found the local supermarket …. An hour and a half later we were on the terrace outside S&B room with meats, cheese, bread and of course wine and Jack Daniels ….few spits of rain but excellent. Next morning was embarkation day for MSC Splendida, so we had the morning to wander, saw the pirate ship and wandered a few shops and stumbled upon the Basilica of Assumption ….OMG …what a find…in many ways another Sistine Chapel. Then back to hotel for 11am checkout and down to the terminal …..were given an early board so is was time to get into cruise mode with a cocktail or five while we waited for bags and emergency drill before setting sail. Arrivaderci Genoa!